🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "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 stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.

Connected Developments

• Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
• France backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats