France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept 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 overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister 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 allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
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