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France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

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

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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