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France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

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

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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