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France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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