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

This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

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

Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.

This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a brief change towards a stricter strategy this summer, which ceased when the previous government official left government.

That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Now French officials will once more be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.

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