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

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

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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