🔗 Share this article French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements. French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels. This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel. Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment. Related Updates Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security