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French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

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

French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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• Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to French territory
• France withdrawing from pledge to intercept asylum boats