France to begin stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
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