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

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

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

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

Now, a French maritime police representative says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways 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 comment.

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