French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.