French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.

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

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and 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 stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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