🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats. This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Connected Updates Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security