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

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

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

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking 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 intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

Related Updates

• Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
• French government backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats