🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat. Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Reasons Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security