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

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and individuals.

"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

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

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

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