🔗 Share this article France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, 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 Why Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to France French government withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security