French authorities will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.

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

Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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