French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

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

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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