🔗 Share this article France will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK. This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels. The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Updates Why Britain can't just return migrants to France French government backing away from commitment to intercept asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security