French police are reportedly using jet skis to deploy nets in the sea in an attempt to deter small boats crossing the English Channel.
The new tactic comes just days after footage emerged of French officers using a knife to slash a dinghy packed with migrants before dragging the deflated vessel back to dry land.
It is thought that dropping the nets in shallow water will jam the propeller of any small boats in the vicinity and bring them to a halt.
The Sun reported that both this measure, and the move to puncture the boat on Friday, are trial methods in an attempt to crack down on the number of migrants reaching the UK.
Emmanuel Macron will visit Sir Keir Starmer this coming week and the newspaper says the French President will outline these methods as a strategy to stop the small boats on Thursday.
This will soon reportedly become routine for officers rather than being trialled – possibly signalling early success.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘Over the last few months, we have been working together on new ways to crackdown on the criminal gang operations, with the French now bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water.
‘We need to stop at nothing to boost our border security.’
French police are reportedly using jet skis to deploy nets in the sea to in an attempt to deter small boats crossing the English Channel
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (above) said France were bringing in ‘important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water’
It comes just days after footage emerged of French authorities using a knife to slash a dinghy packed with migrants before dragging the deflated vessel back to dry land
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel first suggested the idea of using UK border guards on jet skis to physically stop migrant boats.
She had wanted Border Force to mimic tactics used by the Greek Navy, which has physically pushed boats trying to cross the Aegean back into Turkish waters.
The UK plan mooted in 2020 and 2021 saw officials learning how to redirect migrants back to French waters using high-powered armoured ‘personal water craft‘.
But the pushback plan was cancelled in 2022 before a High Court legal challenge. The PCS union, which represents Border Force staff, had also threatened to strike.
The latest methods to puncture the boats now implemented by French police – which were aired by the BBC – comes after the force previously said French law prevented them from interfering with boats more than 10 feet from the coast.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel (above) first suggested the idea of using UK border guards on jet skis to physically stop migrant boats
That rule is in the process of being scrapped, but some officers appeared to be acting early, prompting anger from refugee charities.
Number 10 hailed the actions of French cops on Friday as a ‘significant moment’ that could have ‘a major impact’ on smuggling gangs.
Downing Street said the change in stance from French law enforcement was thanks to the Prime Minister’s ‘reset’ in relations with Europe, as he has looked to heal the wounds caused by the Brexit years.
A spokesman said: ‘No government has been able to get this level of cooperation with the French. That is important.
‘We are looking to see France change its maritime tactics, and that is down to the Prime Minister’s efforts to reset our relationship across Europe.’
Kate O’Neill, advocacy coordinator at Project Play, said: ‘This is not a new tactic… it’s something that has been happening for a long time in Calais and surrounding areas.’
Emmanuel Macron (right) will visit Sir Keir Starmer (left) this coming week and the French President will reportedly outline new strategies to stop the small boats
She also warned it was a ‘dangerous’ tactic as children were ‘often in the middle of the boats’.
Ms O’Neill added: ‘The events taking place in the BBC coverage are not only upsetting to watch, but show clear evidence of police officers endangering a child.’
She added: ‘While talks are ongoing to allow the interception of boats in shallow water, it remains illegal at this time under maritime law and violates the obligations of the UK and France under international law – including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
‘This footage highlights the danger involved in intercepting and slashing boats in the water, and we implore decision makers to consider the potentially fatal consequences of allowing this to take place even more frequently.’
A total of 517 people crossed the Channel across eight boats yesterday – bringing the annual total to 21,117.
That makes it the earliest point in the calendar year the figure has been reached since the start of the Channel crisis in 2018.
