🔗 Share this article France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas 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 gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Related Developments Why Britain can't just return asylum seekers to France French government withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security