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French officials have consented to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

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

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.

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

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for comment.

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