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

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.

French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.

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

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

Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.

Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.

This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.

Now French authorities will once more be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.

Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.

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

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