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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.

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