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France has agreed to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.

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

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

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

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left office.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.

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