French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from 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 damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.

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