French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any 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 passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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