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France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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