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France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

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

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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