French police resort to slashing UK-bound migrant boats
ECAULT BEACH, FRANCE—Across the English Channel, the white cliffs of the UK beckon. On fine days, men and women with children in their arms and determination in their eyes can see the shoreline of what they believe will be a promised land as they attempt the perilous crossing aboard flimsy inflatable boats that set to sea from northern France.
In a flash, on one recent crossing attempt, French police swooped in with knives, wading into the water and slashing at the boat’s thin rubber—literally deflating the migrants’ hopes and dreams.
Some of the men put up dispirited resistance, trying to position themselves—in vain—between the boat and the officers’ blades. One splashed water at them, another hurled a shoe. Cries of “No! No!” rang out. A woman wailed.
Again and again
But the team of three officers lunged at the boat again and again as it quickly deflated.
France is increasingly becoming aggressive against migrants trying to go to the UK.
Under pressure from UK authorities, France’s government is preparing to give an even freer hand to police patrols guarding against illegal crossings.
Four days later, on Écault beach south of Boulogne, the BBC filmed police wading into the surf and slashing another boat with box cutters, again pitching people into the water as it deflated.
The French Interior Ministry told The Associated Press (AP) that police haven’t been issued orders to systematically slash boats. But the British government—which is partly funding France’s policing efforts—welcomed what it called a “toughening” of the French approach.
UK birthday
Deniz, a Kurd with an infectious laugh and a deep singing voice, wanted more than anything to cross the channel in time to celebrate his 44th birthday in August with his 6-year-old daughter, Eden, who lives with her mother in the UK.
Refused a short-stay UK visa, Deniz said he had no other option than the sea route, but four attempts ended with police wrecking the boats.
He said that on one of those occasions, his group of around 40 people begged an officer patrolling alone to turn a blind eye and let them take to sea.
“He said, ‘No,’ nobody going to stop him. We could stop him, but we didn’t want, you know, to hurt him or we didn’t want to argue with him,” Deniz said. “We just let him, and he cut it with a knife.”
The coastal battle between police and migrants never lets up, no matter the hour or weather. Drones and aircraft watch the beaches and gendarmes patrol them aboard buggies and on foot. On Écault beach, a World War II gun emplacement serves as their lookout post.
‘Taxi boats’
Inland waterways have been sealed off with razor wire and floating barriers to prevent launches of so-called “taxi boats.” They motor to offshore pickup points, where waiting migrants then wade into the sea and climb aboard, children in their arms and on their shoulders.
In an AP interview, police union official Régis Debut voiced concerns about potential legal ramifications for officers if people drown during police attempts to stop offshore departures. He said officers weighed down by equipment could also drown.
“We will never give up,” Deniz said.
According to UK government figures, more than 20,000 people made the crossing in the first six months of this year, up by about 50 percent from the same period in 2024, and potentially on course toward a new annual record.
About 37,000 people were detected crossing in 2024, the second-highest annual figure after 46,000 in 2022.
