🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK. The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger 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 maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat. Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Connected Developments Why UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security