French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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