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French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

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

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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