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French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start 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 previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a vessel.

Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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