France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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