France will start intercepting small boats in Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting 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 permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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