France will start intercepting 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.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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