🔗 Share this article France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Connected Developments Why UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France France backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security