🔗 Share this article

France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement 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 previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

Connected Developments

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