France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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