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France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French naval police representative states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left government.

This was demonstrated in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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