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France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

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

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

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

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

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

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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