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

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."

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

Significantly, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.

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