France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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