French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

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

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... 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 lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

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