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France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period 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 presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.

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

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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