France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.

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

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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