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

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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