French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands

France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

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

French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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