🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK. This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat. Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response. Connected Developments Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security