Key Takeaways:
- French officials have made their first interception on the water as part of a new policy to stop small boats carrying illegal migrants to the UK.
- The interception occurred on the Aa canal in Gravelines, on the Channel coast above Calais, and involved a "taxi-boat" being boarded by French officers.
- The new policy is aimed at stopping smugglers’ gangs who use "taxi-boats" to pick up migrants along the coast, with an 81% success rate in 2025.
- The number of migrants who reached the UK from France rose last year to 41,472, with the majority arriving on small boats.
- The French maritime prefecture has declined to comment on the operation, citing an ongoing judicial investigation.
Introduction to the New Policy
The French government has recently implemented a new policy aimed at stopping small boats carrying illegal migrants to the UK. This policy involves intercepting these boats on the water, rather than just on land, in an effort to prevent smugglers’ gangs from successfully transporting migrants across the Channel. The first interception under this new policy occurred on Saturday, when French officers boarded a "taxi-boat" on the Aa canal in Gravelines, which is located on the Channel coast above Calais. This operation marks a significant shift in tactics for the French authorities, who had previously only intervened to stop small boats as they were being prepared for launch on beaches.
Background to the Policy Change
The change in policy was agreed upon in November, following growing pressure from the UK government to step up interventions. Until then, French police had only intervened to stop small boats as they were being prepared for launch on beaches, as intervening at sea was judged to be too dangerous. However, smugglers’ gangs learned to avoid police by using "taxi-boats", which enter the water some distance away and then travel along the coast picking up groups of migrants who themselves enter the water to get aboard. According to an official French document, this method was proving extremely effective, with an 81% success rate in 2025. The number of migrants who reached the UK from France rose last year from 36,566 in 2024 to 41,472, although it was lower than the peak of 45,774 in 2022.
The New Tactics
The new policy involves French officers intercepting "taxi-boats" before they take on migrants, rather than when they are fully loaded. This approach is designed to minimize the risk to life and reduce the liability of officers in the event of an accident. The terms of engagement for the gendarmes involved in these operations are clear: they will only intervene to stop "taxi-boats" before they take on migrants. This seems to have been the procedure used in Saturday’s operation, where police suspected that the inflatable was about to be used for picking up migrants and moved to arrest the men on board. The inflatable was then towed to the dockside, where the men were taken into custody.
The Operation
The operation on Saturday was a significant milestone in the implementation of the new policy. A photograph of the aftermath of the operation, obtained by the BBC, shows a number of men – apparently people-smugglers – on an inflatable dinghy with the police launch alongside. The inflatable is then towed to the dockside, where the men were taken into custody. The French maritime prefecture declined to comment on the operation, citing an ongoing judicial investigation. The fact that the operation was carried out without incident suggests that the new tactics are effective and that the French authorities are taking a more proactive approach to preventing illegal migration.
Conclusion
The implementation of the new policy marks a significant shift in the approach of the French authorities to preventing illegal migration. By intercepting "taxi-boats" on the water, the French government hopes to reduce the number of migrants reaching the UK and disrupt the business model of smugglers’ gangs. While there are still risks associated with these operations, the fact that the first interception was carried out without incident suggests that the new tactics are effective. As the French authorities continue to implement this policy, it will be important to monitor its impact and adjust the approach as necessary to ensure that it is both effective and safe.
