French authorities to begin stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high 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."

Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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