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French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces 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 infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

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

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.

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