French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following UK pressure

France has agreed to begin 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 French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

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

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

Related Updates

• Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
• France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats