🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage. French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation. French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life. Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government. That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel. Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Updates Reasons UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France France backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security