France to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

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

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

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

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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