French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats 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 urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.

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