French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to 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 start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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