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French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

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

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl 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 former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

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