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France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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