🔗 Share this article France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom. The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office. This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Related Developments Why UK can't just return migrants to France France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security