🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation. French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives. Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat. Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented. Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response. Connected Developments Why UK can't just return migrants to France French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security