French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls 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, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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