🔗 Share this article France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom. This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements. French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats. This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment. Related Developments Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security