French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel after UK pressure

French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

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

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently 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.

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