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

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

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

French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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