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French Police Watch as Channel Migrant Crossings Exceed 15,000 in 2025

Discussions are focusing on revising police protocols to permit interceptions nearer the coast.

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French police on the beach in Gravelines watch as migrants, including children, wade out to board a dinghy

Overview

  • French police stand by as migrants, including children, board overloaded dinghies because intervention once boats are afloat is legally barred.
  • The UK has provided £476 million to French border forces under a 2023 agreement to stop small boats, but crossings continue to rise.
  • Channel crossings have risen sharply, with almost 15,000 arrivals this year and ten reported drownings as weather conditions improve.
  • London is urging Paris to amend its operational policy so maritime units can intervene in shallow waters before dinghies set off.
  • French interior minister Bruno Retailleau has proposed extending gendarmerie powers to intercept boats within 300 meters, and both governments are exploring new tactics.