France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested 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 approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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