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France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

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

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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• French government backing away from commitment to stop migrant boats