France will start stopping small boats in Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" 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 official confirmation.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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