France to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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