French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

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

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

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

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

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

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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