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

The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

French authorities have rarely acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson states personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.

Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be looking for methods to adapt to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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