French authorities to begin stopping small boats in Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
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