🔗 Share this article France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom. This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters." Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life. Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels. This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat. Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past. The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response. Related Updates Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security