France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking 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 approached for response.