France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces 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 stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.