France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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