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French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

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

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

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former 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 witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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