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France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.

This policy shift comes after the British leader wrote to the President asking him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.

French police have infrequently intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

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

Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.

Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they collect migrant passengers from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.

The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.

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