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French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

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

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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