France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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