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French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative statements.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline 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 no effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.

Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.

The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and French president, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats before they collect migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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