French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers 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 objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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