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France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French police have infrequently acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from 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 slash the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.

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