French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure

France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

Related Updates

• Why UK cannot just return asylum seekers to France
• France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats