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French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

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

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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