France will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following British demands

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

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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