In France, during an operation to prevent illegal crossings of the English Channel, migrants attacked police officers who were trying to stop a boat from going to sea. The published video shows people in life jackets throwing various objects at police officers as they attempt to block access to an inflatable boat. In response, law enforcement used pepper spray and cut the boat with a knife, rendering it unfit for going to sea. The incident occurred against the backdrop of increased security measures on the northern coast of France. In recent months, the French police have significantly intensified their fight against illegal crossings of migrants to the UK. Since the new agreement between France and the UK came into effect, 185 attempts to launch boats into the sea have been prevented in three months. Police are confiscating vessels, motors, and life jackets, as well as detaining the organizers of illegal human trafficking. For ordinary residents of border areas, this means a more noticeable police presence on the beaches and increased coastal surveillance. The main goal is to prevent dangerous crossings across one of the busiest maritime routes in Europe. After the agreement was signed in April, France sent additional forces to the coast, including a special unit of 50 personnel. Boats are now intercepted both onshore and after they have already gone to sea. According to French authorities, since March, the activities of 12 so-called "taxi boats" that operated along the coast, picking up migrants in various locations before heading out to open sea, have also been curtailed. Smugglers are changing tactics, trying to transport more people in a single trip. This month, a new record was set: one boat was used to transport 230 people. Despite the ongoing pressure on the route across the English Channel, the number of successful crossings is decreasing. Since the beginning of the year, the UK has seen 15,897 people reach its shores, which is 43% less than during the same period last year and 18% less than during the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, political disputes continue in the UK over how to tackle illegal migration. The Reform UK party has proposed using the navy to intercept boats and return them to France and Belgium; however, Paris has already stated that such an approach would violate international law and infringe on French sovereignty.
