đź”— Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives. Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government. That was highlighted in July, 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 vessel. Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security