France: France is preparing to allow security forces to stop small boats at sea before they collect passengers attempting to cross the English Channel. The move comes amid renewed pressure from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has warned that the lack of a strong deterrent has allowed the crossings to rise steadily.
Discussions have intensified between London and Paris over recent weeks as both governments seek new ways to curb the crossings, which have become a defining political issue in the UK. French authorities plan to intervene against empty inflatable boats, often called taxi boats, used by smuggling networks to transport asylum seekers from the French coastline to England. Security forces will be permitted to stop or disable these craft before they take on passengers.
According to reports in France, a formal framework allowing such interventions was finalised in late November. While the full details remain undisclosed, officials have confirmed that the authorisation applies only to boats without passengers, reflecting concerns over safety during past attempts to stop vessels already at sea.
In recent years, French police have occasionally intervened near beaches, including incidents where officers slashed dinghies in shallow water. Those efforts were quickly halted after objections from police unions, which argued that the operations placed both officers and migrants in danger.
Earlier this year, France promised to reinterpret maritime law to allow limited at-sea interceptions within 300 metres of the coast. However, such actions have remained rare, with officials repeatedly stressing the risks of confronting overcrowded inflatables that are already underway. The latest plan marks the first time France has agreed to take action before a boat is boarded, which both governments hope will disrupt smuggling operations more effectively.
More than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year. The route remains one of the busiest and deadliest irregular migration paths in Europe. French data shows that 26 people have already lost their lives in 2025, with most deaths occurring close to the coast where boats are densely packed or overwhelmed by waves.
Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron previously agreed to a “one in, one out” arrangement, allowing one person to travel legally to the UK to claim asylum for every irregular arrival returned to France. A second part of that deal involved intercepting overcrowded dinghies at sea, an approach that has largely stalled due to safety concerns.
British financial support for French border security is due for renewal in March, and the release of funds has hinged on France pledging stronger maritime enforcement. Paris has faced growing pressure to demonstrate progress, particularly as crossings continue despite increased patrols along the northern coastline.
The French government has not confirmed whether future interventions will involve puncturing boats or using other methods to disable them. Officials have insisted that any action will focus on preventing departures rather than endangering migrants already in the water.
A UK government spokesperson said both countries remain committed to working together on what they describe as a shared challenge, and that officers in France have been reviewing their tactics to allow safer interventions in shallow coastal waters.
