France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "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 confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets 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 step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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