France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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