French police deployed tear gas against a large group of people attempting to board an inflatable boat near Dunkirk overnight, in a dramatic escalation of efforts to prevent crossings of the English Channel.
Chaotic Scenes on the French Coast
Footage obtained by GB News shows officers firing tear gas cannons in volleys and clashing with the group on the beach. The scenes unfolded as individuals tried to launch a vessel destined for the UK under cover of darkness. This forceful intervention highlights the ongoing and intense pressures on the northern French coastline, where such attempts are a nightly occurrence.
Crossing Numbers Continue to Climb
The confrontation comes against a backdrop of persistently high crossing numbers. According to the latest government figures, 40,652 people have made the dangerous journey across the Channel since the start of 2025. While this number has risen more swiftly this year than in previous periods, the annual total has not yet surpassed the record set in 2022, when 45,755 arrivals were recorded.
In a related development early this morning, the UK Border Force brought several groups of people, believed to be migrants, into the port of Dover following a series of overnight crossing attempts.
International Cooperation to Tackle Smuggling
The UK government continues to emphasise its "upstream" strategy, aiming to address the root causes of the migration crisis through work with international partners. A significant step was taken this week in Germany, which passed a new law targeting people smugglers.
The German law, set to come into force before the end of the year, could see smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for attempting to bring people into the UK. This change aims to bolster law enforcement powers, enhance prosecution capabilities, and improve information sharing between Berlin and London.
The legislation follows a bilateral deal agreed in December last year, which included measures to remove smugglers' advertising from social media platforms. Commenting on the development, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: "This major change in German law is the result of our close partnership working to tackle illegal migration and organised immigration crime. We will continue to ramp up our international co-operation to strengthen our own border security."
The overnight events near Dunkirk starkly illustrate the ongoing challenges faced by both French and British authorities, even as diplomatic efforts to combat the people-smuggling networks intensify.
