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France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.

This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French maritime police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to snarl the engines of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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

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