🔗 Share this article France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom. This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response. Related Developments Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security