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France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

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

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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