French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches 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 networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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