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

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and stating there currently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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