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French officials have consented to start intercepting 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 President urging him to support the initiative and saying 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 picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will start taking action 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 vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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