France to approve new plans to halt small boats crossing the Channel

Keir Starmer has urged the French government to intervene before asylum seekers board vessels heading for the UK

The French government plans to authorise interventions to halt small boats at sea before they pick up people attempting to reach the UK after pressure from Keir Starmer.

It is understood French security forces will target empty “taxi boats”, or large dinghies, before they pick up passengers from beaches to be taken to the UK.