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France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.

The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.

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

French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and individuals.

"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."

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

Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the boats.

This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.

This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.

Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.

Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.

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

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