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

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept 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.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to evade 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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