🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK. This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response. Connected Updates Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security