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

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.

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

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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