France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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