French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces 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 authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt 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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