France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

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

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.

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

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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