🔗 Share this article France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK. This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" 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 authoritative confirmation. French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response. Connected Developments Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to France France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security