France will start stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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