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French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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