Border Force Typhoon rescues migrants from the Channel (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
Pressure is intensifying on France to fulfill their pledge to intercept migrant boats in the water “as soon as possible” to prevent more deaths in the Channel.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau vowed to “rethink our approach” after talks with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last week.
But the Express on Wednesday morning witnessed a deathtrap boat being escorted by a French naval ship – Ridens – to the median line in the Channel, where up to 60 migrants were then taken to Dover by the UK’s Border Force Typhoon.
French officials had spent hours shadowing the boat – packed mostly with men – across the Channel after spotting it at 5.50am, around 1.3 miles away from the French coast.
The migrants could be heard shouting and waving at the French navy boat as their dinghy – which had already begun taking on water – struggled to break through the waves.
But the French radioed the UK Border Force to race out to the vessel, and continued to shadow it towards English waters.
Dozens of migrants were detected in the Channel (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
The French followed the boat for several hours before it was picked up by Border Force (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
They were eventually taken on board the Border Force Typhoon vessel.
One witness said: “This was a complete taxi service. The French said these migrants were distressed and needed help. But it didn’t rescue them. Instead they asked Britain.
“When Britain were not keen, the French simply escorted them into British water. It’s appalling.”
Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt travelled to Calais and Paris yesterday (Wednesday) to urge the French to quickly stop migrant dinghies in the water.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “These are shocking photos.
“The French should have stopped this boat near their shores and not ushered it into UK waters.
“By allowing these crossings to continue, it is endangering life – nearly 100 have died crossing in the last year.
“If the French stopped these boats in French waters, the crossing attempts would soon stop, and the migrants and gangs around Calais would disperse.
“The French must urgently stop the boats in the water or they are complicit in helping the criminal people smugglers.
“The UK government must also urgently introduce immediate removals for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.
“Cancelling Rwanda before it even started was a huge mistake – and that is why illegal crossings under Labour have gone up by 26% since the election.”
Reform UK Leader said: “The French may stop the odd boat in the shallows, but overall, this will make little difference as these pictures clearly show.”
The UK now wants the French to act on the agreement to start turning boats around as soon as possible.
Mr Retailleau has agreed to the change in tactics because he believes it could counter the use of “taxi-boats”, where smugglers quietly launch the boat in a canal or quieter part of the beach and then pick up larger numbers of migrants down the coastline.
Vowing to stop more boats in the water, Mr Retailleau said: “We need to rethink our approach so that we can intercept the boats.
We must be able to intercept them within 300 metres of the coast.
“They have a naval service, the gendarmerie, and they must be able to intervene in shallow waters.”
But Former Immigration Minister Kevin Foster said: “Trying to get what sounds like a simple and fair agreement – taking back those who left your country [France], has always been the biggest frustration for Home Office ministers.
“French authorities have deflected to the EU, complained about the lack of a UK ID-card and pointed to more police on their beaches.
“Anything to distract from the fact migrants crossing the Channel would not do so if they knew they would be returned the same day.”
Some 1,168 people made the journey from March 1 to 4, bringing the total number of arrivals for the year so far to 3,224.
This is the first record of more than 1,000 arrivals in four days so far this year, according to analysis of Home Office figures.
The number of arrivals is 8% higher than the same point last year (2,983) and also 9% up on 2023 (2,953), but it is a further jump of 46% compared with 2022 (2,212).
Border Force Typhoon approaches a migrant dinghy (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
At least five people are thought to have died while attempting the crossing this year, with French mayors calling for more help to deal with the bodies washing up on their shores.
A Home Office source said: “The spent years, standing on the sidelines shouting at the sea, leaving the English Channel to be run by criminal gangs.
“This Home Secretary is putting in the work and graft to tackle these smugglers.
“Last week’s visit to the French coast wasn’t the first time she met her French counterpart, but the fourth.
“They are working closely to deal with the issue on the French beaches, right the way back to source where these people are coming from.”
The Home Secretary said a new offence will be created to target those endangering another life during a small boat crossing.
This means anyone fighting with French police on the beaches, holding children over the edge of a small boat or “rushing” vessels as they try to launch could all be prosecuted, with a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.
This move is believed to have been significant in convincing the French to intercept boats in the water, it is understood.
Criminals caught selling or handling small boat parts, such as engines or lifejackets, could also be jailed for up to 14 years as the Home Office will make it “illegal to supply or handle items suspected of being for use by organised crime groups”.
Officials believe they could even extradite criminals operating in countries such as Turkey and prosecute them under this new law.
Ms Cooper has outlined Labour’s plan to end the Channel migrant crisis, insisting giving Border Force counter-terrorism-style powers will allow the UK to “identify, disrupt and smash people smuggling gangs” faster.
Immigration officers and police will also be able to seize phones, laptops and other electronic devices before they arrest anyone if they are suspected of “containing information about organised immigration crime”.
Home Office sources warn Border Force officers often face “floating crime scenes”, with traumatised migrants unable to speak about the horrors of the fatal crossings.