French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
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