France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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