French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

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

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade 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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