France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands

French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

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

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.

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

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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