French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

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

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

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for 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 contacted for comment.

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