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French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving 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 deterrent in the Channel."

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official left office.

That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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