French authorities confirm 10 Channel halts, refuting UK political claims of inaction
Official data reveals a 43 per cent drop in small boat arrivals, attributed to £660m in UK funding, as criminal gangs adapt by launching from further south.
French maritime prefect officers have halted small boats at sea on 10 occasions since the spring, official figures released on Friday directly contradict assertions by UK Conservative and Reform politicians that French police are refusing to intervene in Channel crossings. The disclosure challenges recent narratives propagated by senior UK opposition figures, who have claimed that French authorities are effectively allowing migrants to cross to the United Kingdom.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, previously shared footage from a beach near Boulogne featuring a French officer stating that the order was to let people go, while Reform MP Lee Anderson claimed during a visit to Calais that police were literally waving migrants onto boats. In response, Border Security Command director Charlie Eastaugh described these claims as misleading, noting that French officers are actively using intervention tactics to board or control vessels at sea and return asylum seekers to France.
Eastaugh emphasised that French efforts include facing violent individuals, dispersing crowds, arresting smugglers, and seizing equipment to support prosecutions. He noted that every confrontation is assessed by commanders who must balance officer safety with public security, particularly when dealing with agitated groups and criminal gangs. The director stressed that out-of-context images create a false impression that little is being done to stop crossings.
The confirmation of active French enforcement coincides with a significant decline in arrivals. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighted that small boat crossings fell by 43 per cent between January and mid-July this year, dropping from 21,690 people in the same period last year to 12,469. Officials attribute this reduction to £660m in UK funding provided to French authorities in April, which has disrupted the business model of people smugglers in northern France.
Despite the overall decrease, criminal gangs are adapting their tactics by launching from further south, including Dieppe, and utilising larger motorised vessels known as mega-dinghies. On Sunday, during what was designated a red day due to calm conditions, two boats attempted to launch; one was intercepted at sea and the other halted on land. Earlier this week, more than 170 migrants were rescued after their vessel caught fire, underscoring the increasing risks associated with these longer journeys.
While the sustained drop in crossings has allowed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to focus on her policy agenda, she remains cautious about celebrating the trend, noting that arrivals could increase in the late summer and autumn. Meanwhile, Labour MP Andy Burnham visited HM Coastguard in Dover, where Border Force officers remained on high alert despite the improved statistics.
