🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat. Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Developments Reasons UK can't just send back migrants to France French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security