France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure

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

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

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

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.