French becoming more effective in stopping small boat crossings, UK says

French police tactics are proving increasingly effective in preventing small boats from reaching Britain across the English Channel, the UK Home Office announced. This summer, French authorities intercepted 185 potential crossings involving 4,300 migrants over four separate weeks. They also stopped 12 boats at sea using newly developed techniques.

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French police tactics are becoming more effective in stopping small boats in the English Channel from reaching Britain.

Footage released by French police shows officers intercepting a boat on a beach, with one officer seen slashing the vessel after it was abandoned. Migrants are depicted throwing objects at officers, who appear to use pepper spray in response. While Channel crossings are down approximately 40% compared to last year, thousands of illegal migrants continue to arrive, with 250 reaching the UK on a single recent Monday.

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The UK-France deal is already having a real impact.

The UK Home Office, citing French police figures, stated that since a deal was struck three months ago providing additional funding to French authorities, 61% of small boats have been intercepted. This represents a five percent increase compared to the previous year. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the UK-France deal as "already having a real impact."

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last Thursday alone, the French prevented all three of the boats that tried to cross.

Previously, French authorities often allowed dinghies to proceed towards the UK once launched, fearing the risks of interception in deep water with people aboard. However, of the 12 dinghies stopped at sea so far, three occurred in the last two weeks. Charlie Eastaugh, director of maritime and small boats at the Border Security Command, told the BBC that "last Thursday alone, the French prevented all three of the boats that tried to cross." He added, "Clearly, every single day that one slips through the net and crosses, it's one too many, and that's why it's absolutely critical to us to not take our foot off the gas and to keep working hard with our French partners and stop this from happening."

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Clearly, every single day that one slips through the net and crosses, it's one too many, and that's why it's absolutely critical to us to not take our foot off the gas and to keep working hard with our French partners and stop this from happening.