French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways 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 contacted for comment.

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