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France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

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

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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