🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK. This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed 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 intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government. That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat. Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Related Updates Reasons Britain cannot just return migrants to French territory French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security