French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging 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 authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister 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 permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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