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

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

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

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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