🔗 Share this article France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK. The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life. Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat. Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Updates Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security