🔗 Share this article

France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

Connected Developments

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