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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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