French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands

French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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