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French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official left office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up 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 seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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