🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin intercepting 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 United Kingdom. This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements. French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline 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 zero effective prevention in the Channel." Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life. Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats. This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat. Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals 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 commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment. Connected Developments Reasons UK can't just send back migrants to French territory French government withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security