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

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.

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

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

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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