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

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

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

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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