🔗 Share this article French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK. The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel. French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation. French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals. "It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel." Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives. Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats. The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government. That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat. Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented. Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances. The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment. Related Developments Reasons UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats UK immigration Channel crossings Border security