The British government is pressuring France to change how it polices small boat crossings in the English Channel, following a record number of migrant arrivals over the weekend. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Monday that urgent reforms were needed to address gaps in French maritime law that criminal gangs are exploiting.
Cooper’s remarks came after over 1,100 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK on Saturday, marking the highest single-day figure in 2024. Critics say French law currently prevents police from intervening once migrants are in the water, enabling smugglers to operate with impunity.
Call for French Law Reform and Maritime Action
In the House of Commons, Cooper said that the French cabinet and Interior Minister had agreed that their current regulations need to change. “We are urging France to complete its maritime review and implement operational changes as swiftly as possible,” she said, adding that ongoing discussions were taking place with her French counterpart.
French authorities are reportedly considering an amendment to allow police intervention within 300 metres of the coastline. At present, intervention is only permitted onshore or during rescue operations, after control passes to the maritime prefecture.
Conservatives Push for Tougher Measures
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised France’s efforts, claiming their on-land prevention rate is “under 40%” and accusing them of failing to stop boats at sea, unlike Belgium. Philp suggested suspending an EU fishing agreement until France takes more decisive action.
“If the French don’t act, we should reconsider access to UK waters,” Philp said. In response, Cooper fired back, blaming Philp for a rise in migration during his previous tenure as immigration minister.
UK-French Coordination Remains Key to Crisis Response
Cooper stressed that both governments remain in dialogue to close operational loopholes and crack down on smuggling networks. The UK continues to urge faster French action to address what has become a major flashpoint in UK-EU relations over border control and immigration.
