France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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