🔗 Share this article France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom. This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life. Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, 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 Developments Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory France withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security