🔗 Share this article French authorities will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom. The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements. French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians. "It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel." Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats. The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government. This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel. Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented. Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances. UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response. Related Developments Why UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to France France withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security