🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure 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 stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French maritime police 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 infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels. This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat. Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response. Related Updates Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security