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

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

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

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

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