French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any 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 migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

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

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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