French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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