France will start stopping small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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