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French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

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

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

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt 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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