Hundreds of migrants are believed to have made the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats on Saturday, marking the first attempted crossings in over a week.
At least six vessels reportedly departed from French shores, with French police seen observing groups — including children — boarding boats at a beach near Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk.
Although officers were later pictured escorting some of the boats, France has yet to implement rule changes allowing police to prevent people already in the water from boarding vessels.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently confirmed that these measures, while agreed upon, have not yet come into force.
Sources within the Home Office stressed the importance of these changes, noting the need for French maritime forces to intervene in shallow waters as swiftly as possible.
“We’ve built strong operational ties with France, and it’s vital that they now act to stop these crossings not just at the shoreline, but once boats are already at sea,” a spokesperson said. “Implementing this step is essential to safeguarding lives and reinforcing our border security.”
On Saturday, the UK Coastguard reportedly issued an appeal to nearby fishing boats to assist a yacht and kayaks in difficulty amid a surge in small boat incidents.
Officials confirmed that handling multiple incidents simultaneously is not unusual, adding that public safety was never at risk. “Contacting local vessels to assist when best placed to do so is standard procedure and doesn’t suggest a lack of rescue assets,” they clarified.
So far this year, over 13,000 migrants have arrived via small boats, a 30% increase compared to this time last year. A record 825 people crossed in a single day on 21 May, putting 2025 on track to surpass all previous years in terms of Channel arrivals.
In response, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has vowed to intensify efforts to halt these crossings, with a focus on tackling people-smuggling gangs.
A Home Office spokesperson reiterated the government’s commitment: “These crossings endanger lives and weaken our border defences. Smuggling gangs treat human lives as expendable. We’re taking robust action to dismantle their networks through international intelligence sharing, enforcement operations in northern France, and tougher legislation under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.”
Yvette Cooper has previously noted that smugglers have exploited calm weather conditions, such as the 26°C heat recorded on Saturday, as opportunities for launching more crossings — concluding what has been Britain’s sunniest spring on record.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp launched a scathing attack on Labour’s handling of the crisis.
“The Channel is being flooded with boats while our Border Force is stretched to the brink. Even fishing vessels are being called in to support overwhelmed rescue services,” he said.
“Labour has lost control of our borders. Their pledge to dismantle smuggling gangs lies in ruins. They scrapped the Rwanda deterrent without replacement, and the boats just keep coming.”
“This is already the worst year on record for small boat crossings. Labour’s failure is now Britain’s burden — a national embarrassment on the high seas.”
