France will start stopping small boats in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

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