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France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts 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 past.

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

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