🔗 Share this article

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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however 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 networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

Connected Updates

• Why UK cannot just return migrants to France
• French government backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats