🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage. French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to 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 viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians. "It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels. The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office. This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel. Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past. UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response. Connected Developments Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security