🔗 Share this article France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements. French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat. Currently 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 not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Connected Developments Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory France withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security