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

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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

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

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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