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

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the boats.

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

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

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods 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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