France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure

France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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 confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says 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 reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities 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.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

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