🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK. The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements. French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels. The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office. This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel. Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response. Related Developments Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to France France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security