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French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.

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

The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will again be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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