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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 comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and 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 before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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