France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.

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

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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