🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements. French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels. This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Reasons Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory France withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security