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French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.

French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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

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