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

France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

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

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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