French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt 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.

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