🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements. French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop 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 major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Why Britain cannot just return asylum seekers to France France backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security