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French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.

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

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

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

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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