🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation. French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters." Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat. Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped. Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response. Related Updates Why UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security