France to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure

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

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

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

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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