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

French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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