France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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