French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following British demands

France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.

The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both personnel and civilians.

"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."

Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the boats.

This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.

Currently French authorities will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Powerful gusts are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.

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