🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel. Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, 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 French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security