France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any 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 collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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