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

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

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

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

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