French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying 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 picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
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