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

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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