France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely 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 methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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