A drastic measure has been implemented by French police to curb the surge of illegal migrants crossing the English Channel to reach Britain. In a bold move, officers have begun puncturing the rubber boats used for these crossings, employing a tactic that is expected to grant them greater powers to prevent such attempts. This approach, captured in video footage aired by the BBC, shows police using knives to slash inflatable dinghies, thereby deflating them before they can embark on their journey to the UK.
The footage released by the BBC depicts a group of police officers approaching a rubber boat filled with migrants as it attempts to depart from the shore. The officers puncture the vessel, rendering it unusable, and the deflated dinghy is subsequently dragged back to land. This practice of puncturing rubber boats already in the water is seen as a precursor to an anticipated change in French maritime law. According to a source cited by the BBC, the impending update will allow officers from the specialized Compagnie de Marche policing unit to intervene not only on beaches but also in shallow coastal waters before migrant dinghies can launch into the Channel.
Currently, police are only permitted to intervene at sea in rescue operations. However, the new enforcement measures, set to be formally unveiled at a bilateral summit between France and Britain, will form part of a renewed partnership to tackle illegal migration and strengthen border security. The measures are expected to be implemented later this month, marking a significant shift in the approach to addressing the migrant crisis.
The migrant crisis, which has spanned decades, is largely attributed to conflict, poverty, and political instability in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Western interventions, including wars in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, as well as support for uprisings in Syria, have exacerbated these conditions, destabilizing governments and fueling violence. As a result, many people have been forced to flee, making today’s migration challenges, in part, a consequence of past foreign policies.
The UK Home Office recently reported that the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats during the first half of 2025 totaled 19,982, marking a 50% increase over the same period last year. This figure is also 75% higher than the 11,433 recorded in 2023, highlighting the growing concern surrounding illegal migration. The implementation of the new enforcement measures aims to address this issue, but it remains to be seen how effective they will be in reducing small-boat crossings in the Channel.
