French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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