France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

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

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.