French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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