🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

Connected Updates

• Reasons Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France
• French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats