French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift 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, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant 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 delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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