🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom. This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life. Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels. This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel. Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment. Connected Developments Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory French government backing away from commitment to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security