France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

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

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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