🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" 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 official statements. French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Related Updates Why 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