🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK. The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high 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 waters." Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. 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. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat. Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment. Related Updates Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France French government backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security