France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure

France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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