FRENCH cops have finally been captured tackling small boats in the water… while a BBC camera crew were conveniently on hand to film it.
For months, the officers across the Channel have been slammed for refusing to get their feet wet and watching on as dinghies packed with migrants leave their shores.
The cops were spotted using knives to slash the boats[/caption]
French officers have repeatedly faced criticism for refusing to get their feet wet[/caption]
Young men attempting to cross the Channel watched on as their boat was slashed[/caption]
Last month, French boarder guards were pictured standing on a beach taking pictures as yet another boat-load of migrants set sale[/caption]
Critics say that £500million of taxpayer cash given to France has only turned its beaches into “the world’s most expensive sieve”.
It was widely reported last month that the French were stopping a record low number of migrants from crossing, intercepting fewer than 40 per cent of people.
Last month, French boarder guards were pictured standing on a beach taking pictures as yet another boat-load of migrants set sale.
Patrols with jeeps, quad bikes and drones were pictured on the sand earlier this week – but smugglers still managed to launch more dinghies.
In chaotic scenes today – with a BBC camera crew on hand to film – officers finally appeared to intervene and slashed the boats with knives.
With a reporter and cameras on hand to film the action at Boulogne-Sur-Mer this morning, cops were whipped into action.
The officers are first seen arming themselves with the knives as they arrive on the beach in buggies – paid for by the UK – before the camera cuts to them slicing the side of the boat.
Migrants and smugglers can be heard screaming and shouting at the officers as as the rubber dinghy begins to sink.
They have repeatedly claimed that entering the water is legally complex and too dangerous for the migrants.
The number of arrivals to the UK has hit a record 20,000 since the start of the year.
On Monday alone, 879 reached British shores, the third biggest daily total in 2025.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced pressure to deliver on his promise to “smash the gangs”, fuelling the crisis.
The Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron are due to meet in London next week for a State visit and a summit focused on tackling the crossings.
The UK first signed a deal with France under the last Tory government, with nearly £500million committed to extra patrols, surveillance drones, vehicles and riot vans.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Record numbers of young undocumented males have crossed this year thanks to French beaches being the world’s most expensive sieve — this is a disaster for the country.
“They are costing us money, making us less safe, and they bring a terrorist threat.
“This will only get worse under the weakest Prime Minister I have ever seen.”
The leaders are also preparing to unveil a new “one in, one out” migrant returns deal — sending some Channel arrivals to France in exchange for Britain accepting migrants with family reunion rights.
But the Tories have branded the plan a “fantasy” and demanded their Rwanda scheme be reinstated.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “One year into Labour’s government and the boats haven’t stopped, they’ve multiplied.
“It’s become a free-for-all.
“We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed outside Europe.
“The crossings will then rapidly stop.”
The PM’s spokesman said the figures were “clearly unacceptable”.
They added: “But let’s be clear, gangs have been allowed to embed industrial-scale smuggling enterprises across Europe, whilst our own asylum system collapsed through failed policies like Rwanda.
“But we are taking action.”
The spokesman pointed to arrests of gang leaders, thousands of boat seizures, and closer ties with France.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed legal aid fees for immigration and asylum cases will rise by 30 per cent, marking the first increase in almost three decades.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced pressure to deliver on his promise to ‘smash the gangs’[/caption]
Migrants were on the boat when officers popped it[/caption]
