🔗 Share this article France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK. The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation. French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters." Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives. Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government. That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel. Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response. Connected Developments Why Britain can't just send back migrants to France French government backing away from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security