France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader 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 security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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