French authorities will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

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

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

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

"It is essential that we implement 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 objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks 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 contacted for comment.

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