France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure

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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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