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

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative 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 official statements.

French police have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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