France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands

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

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no 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 collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... 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 spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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