France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust 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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