Tensions flared on the northern French coast on Friday morning as French police used pepper spray to stop migrants attempting to reach a small boat bound for the UK.
Around 100 men and women had gathered on Gravelines beach, hoping to cross the English Channel. As they made their way to a dinghy in the water, some came into conflict with police, who deployed the spray to try and halt their progress. Despite this, at least 70 people managed to board the boat and were seen heading across the Channel towards Dover.
The latest incident highlights the continuing surge in small boat crossings. Since the start of Labour’s “one-in, one-out” deal with France on 3 August, more than 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, with 3,500 arriving in August and a further 5,000 reaching UK shores in September.
Foreign policy analyst Nile Gardiner slammed Sir Keir Starmer on GB News, describing the UK Government’s handling of the crisis as “pathetic.” He criticised ministers for failing to act effectively on illegal migration, comparing the messaging to Kremlin-style propaganda.
So far this year, 35,400 migrants have made the crossing, putting the UK on track to surpass last year’s total of arrivals by the weekend, according to maritime sources. One source warned:
“Passing last year’s total by this weekend would be disastrous for the Prime Minister’s ‘smash the gangs’ policy. We could end the year close to the record 46,000 arrivals seen in 2022.”
The Government insists there is no single solution to tackling the crisis. Instead, officials are focusing on alternatives such as digital ID checks to identify illegal workers. Latest figures from the Home Office show that just seven migrants have been returned across the Channel so far.
Reacting to the continued small boat arrivals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:
“These small boat crossings are utterly unacceptable, and the vile people-smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders. Thanks to our deal with France, people crossing in small boats can be detained, and the first removals have now begun. Protecting the UK border is my priority, and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”
The ongoing wave of crossings, combined with favourable weather conditions, means the UK faces a mounting border challenge in the coming weeks, with the total number of migrants potentially setting a new record high for the year.
