French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

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

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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