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

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

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

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

Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.

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