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

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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