French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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