🔗 Share this article France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK. The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels. This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped. Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment. Related Developments Why Britain can't just send back migrants to France French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security