French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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