🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life. Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel. Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Why UK can't just send back migrants to France French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security