French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

Connected Updates

• Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
• French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats