French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.

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

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

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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