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

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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