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

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

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

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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