Video footage has emerged of French law enforcement officers coming under attack from migrants while attempting to intercept a small boat launch on a northern beach.
Video footage shows individuals in life jackets throwing objects at police officers in an effort to keep them away from their dinghy.
The officers respond by spraying Pava before slashing the inflatable vessel with a knife.
The confrontation comes as police patrolling beaches in northern France take an increasingly proactive stance to block crossing attempts in recent months.
Following a new agreement signed between the UK and France in April, extra police units have been deployed along the coast, including a 50-person riot squad.
In the three months after the pact was finalised, units stopped 185 “small boat crossing events” – defined as stopping launches, seizing equipment including boats, engines and lifejackets, and arresting smugglers.
The Home Office reported that police operations have involved interceptions on land and at sea. Since March, 12 so-called “taxi boats” have been prevented from moving further up the coast to pick up more migrants, while additional resources have been directed at seizing boats and engines before they can be used in the Channel.
Smuggling gangs appear to have altered their tactics recently, increasingly crowding more passengers into single vessels. Earlier this month, a record 230 people made the journey in one boat.
Ministers are keen to stress that successful crossings are nevertheless falling. So far this year, 15,897 migrants have crossed the Channel, marking a 43 per cent decline compared to the same period last year and an 18 per cent drop from the same point in 2024.
Meanwhile, Reform UK has proposed deploying the Royal Navy to intercept and transport migrants to France or Belgium, framing the plan as a humanitarian solution. However, French officials rejected the proposal, stating it “would be a violation of French sovereignty as well as a violation of maritime law and international law”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Our new UK-France deal is already having a real impact, stopping crossings before they happen and disrupting the criminal gangs behind them.
“People smugglers should be in no doubt, we’re taking down their operations, seizing their equipment and breaking their business model for good.
“Through our joint work with France, we have stopped over 47,000 small boat crossing attempts since the election and we will not let up.”
Border Security Command’s Charlie Eastaugh said: “Our partnership with France is stronger than ever.
“Together, we are piling the pressure on the criminal gangs and preventing these illegal and dangerous crossings.
“French officers are not shy in taking bold action to prevent these launches where it is safe and lawful to do so.
“They work in difficult and dangerous conditions to stop boats launching, seize equipment and disperse large migrant groups as well as saving thousands of lives at sea.
“Our joint efforts are delivering results, and we will go further still to restore control of our borders and put these smugglers out of business.”
