France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure

France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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