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French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying 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 collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

Connected Developments

• Why Britain can't just send back asylum seekers to France
• French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept migrant boats