French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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