France will start intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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