🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation. French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians. "It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped. Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response. Connected Updates Reasons UK cannot just send back migrants to France France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security