France will start intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.

French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their migrants, according to official statements.

French authorities have rarely intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.

"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.

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

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.

Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.

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