🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK. The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats. This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel. Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response. Related Updates Reasons UK can't just send back migrants to France France backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security