French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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