France will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel after British demands

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

The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

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