France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back 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 picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.

Related Developments

• Why Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory
• French government backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats