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

France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

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

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods 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 comment.

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