🔗 Share this article France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements. French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines 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 dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented. Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Related Updates Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security