🔗 Share this article

French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no 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 collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

Connected Developments

• Why Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory
• French government backing away from commitment to intercept migrant boats