French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure

France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.

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

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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