France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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