France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

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

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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