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France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach 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 French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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