🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

Connected Updates

• Why UK can't just return migrants to France
• France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats