French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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