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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 UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan 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 picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

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