France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
