France to begin stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

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

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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