🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels 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 urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life. Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response. Connected Updates Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security