French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

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

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

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

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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