French navy officers refused to rescue 60 distressed migrants stranded on a cramped, waterlogged boat in the English Channel. Despite the migrants waving for help and signaling distress, French authorities did not act, opting instead to ask the UK Border Force for assistance.
The situation unfolded early in the morning, with French officials monitoring a packed migrant boat. The dinghy, mostly carrying men, was sinking, with water filling the boat as the migrants shouted for help. Despite the obvious danger, French navy officers did not intervene. Instead, they contacted the UK Border Force, passing on the responsibility for rescue.
At around 5:50 AM, French authorities began following the boat just 1.3 miles off the coast of France. Hours later, after seeing the migrants’ distress, the French navy radioed the UK Border Force, informing them that the boat was filled with water and that the migrants were visibly in trouble.
During the exchange, one French official can be heard asking the UK Border Force: "Do you have a rib to clear the situation if possible?" The UK Border Force replied, noting the complications of sending a rescue boat into French waters. They suggested that the French forces launch their own boat first, offering to intervene if the situation worsened.
Photo: Home Office, arrivals by small boats each month, january 2020 to december 2024
After the French navy followed the suggestion, the migrants were handed over to UK Border Force vessels 9 miles from the French coast, where they were then returned to Dover. Witnesses criticized the handling of the situation, claiming the French navy essentially served as a "taxi service" to ensure the migrants ended up in British waters.
Many observers voiced outrage over the French navy’s actions, claiming that they abandoned the migrants and shifted responsibility to the UK. One witness called the situation "appalling," arguing that the French navy’s role was to ensure safety, not merely escort migrants further into British waters.
This incident comes amid increasing numbers of migrant crossings in the Channel. Already this year, over 3,200 migrants have arrived in the UK by small boats, with figures showing an 8% increase over the same period in 2023.
The handling of the incident sheds light on ongoing tensions between the UK and France over how to manage the growing number of migrant crossings. The Home Office has expressed its concerns about the dangerous nature of small boat crossings, highlighting that people-smuggling gangs are exploiting vulnerable individuals, risking their lives for profit.
The French government, facing mounting pressure, is considering changes to its laws regarding migrant boat interceptions. Currently, French authorities are only allowed to intervene in rescue operations once boats are afloat, citing safety concerns. However, the rise of “taxi boats”—small boats launched by smugglers to bypass coastal checks—has led to calls for a more aggressive approach.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has proposed a new strategy that would allow French authorities to intercept boats closer to the coast, within 300 meters of French shores. This shift would aim to address the growing concern of migrants evading intervention while in the water.
The incident also underscores the challenges faced by both the UK and France as they try to balance border security with humanitarian obligations. The question remains: How can both countries work together more effectively to prevent these dangerous crossings while ensuring the safety of vulnerable migrants?
The UK and France are facing significant challenges in balancing border security with the humane treatment of migrants attempting to cross the English Channel. Over recent years, the number of people using small boats to reach the UK has risen sharply, leading both countries to intensify cooperation.
The 2003 Le Touquet Agreement allows UK Border Force officers to operate in France, while French authorities patrol the northern coastline to prevent illegal crossings. Despite this, tensions persist over how best to handle the migrant crisis, with French laws restricting intervention and UK policies, such as the controversial Nationality and Borders Act, drawing criticism.
Smuggling networks have also adapted, using ‘taxi boats’ to circumvent detection, further complicating enforcement efforts. Both nations continue to call for reforms to asylum systems, with France seeking more power to intercept boats in shallow waters, and the UK pushing for stricter immigration measures.
