French security forces have begun deploying jet skis equipped with nets to jam the propellers of migrant boats attempting to cross the English Channel, marking a significant shift in enforcement tactics as both nations struggle to control record-breaking crossings that have exceeded 21,000 arrivals in 2025.
The new maritime intervention methods, including the controversial practice of police officers puncturing inflatable dinghies in shallow waters, represent what British officials are calling a “significant moment” in cross-Channel cooperation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the French approach, stating that authorities are “bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water.”
These measures come as French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepare for crucial talks this week, with the migrant crisis topping their agenda. The Home Office reported that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 vessels Saturday in what were settled weather conditions, bringing the provisional annual total so far to 14,811, representing a 42% increase compared to the same period last year.
Over the last few months, we have been working together on new ways to crackdown on the criminal gang operations,” Cooper told MPs. We need to stop at nothing to boost our border security.
The deployment of jet skis represents a revival of tactics first proposed by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, who sought to replicate methods used successfully by the Greek Navy. The original plan, which involved training officials to redirect migrants using “personal watercraft,” was abandoned in 2022 before facing a High Court legal challenge.
French authorities have historically been restricted from interfering with boats more than 10 feet from the coast, but officials confirm this limitation is being eliminated. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced Thursday plans to allow police to intercept migrant boats within 300 meters of the coast, marking a fundamental change in operational policy.
The tactical shift follows mounting pressure on both governments as crossings reach unprecedented levels. Around 37,000 people were detected crossing the Channel in small boats in 2024, 25% more than the year before but fewer than in 2022. The trend has accelerated dramatically in 2025, with authorities recording the highest-ever numbers for the January-May period.
A Downing Street spokesman emphasized the unprecedented nature of French cooperation, stating: “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.”
The new enforcement methods have generated controversy after footage emerged showing French police officers using knives to slash inflatable boats packed with men, women and children. Political commentator Cristo Foufas dismissed the intervention as “complete political theatre,” reflecting skepticism about whether the measures will prove effective.
“I am cynical, because I always thought they hid behind the law that once a boat is in the water, they’re not allowed to actually intervene,” Foufas said. “Well, they say they’ve changed that now.”
The financial burden of the crisis continues to mount. In January 2025, speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Davies of Gower said, “According to the Home Office figures, housing asylum seekers in hotels costs taxpayers over £8 million a day (nearly £3bn a year).” This figure may be lower now because some migrants have been moved out of hotels.
French officials report that the increased patrols and new tactics are showing early results. Sources within the French interior ministry indicate that any procedural changes being considered would focus on using patrol boats to intercept vessels at sea before they are fully loaded, rather than solely relying on beach interventions.
The bilateral cooperation represents the latest evolution of the Sandhurst Treaty, under which Britain has provided substantial funding for French enforcement efforts. The UK will provide €541 million (around £476 million at the time of the agreement) between 2023/24 and 2025/26, under a three-year deal made in March 2023.
Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged public frustration after footage showed French police watching as migrants launched boats from Gravelines. He described the inability of French officers to intervene in shallow waters as a “really big problem,” while defending the new cooperation framework.
They’re not doing it, but for the first time for years we’ve got the level of cooperation needed,” Healey explained, suggesting that historic limitations on French intervention are finally being addressed.
The demographic profile of crossings has shifted significantly. According to Britain’s interior ministry, migrants who crossed the Channel between March 2024 and March 2025 were mainly Afghans, Syrians, Eritreans, Iranians and Sudanese. Vietnamese arrivals have also increased dramatically, accounting for 20% of arrivals in early 2024.
Peter Walsh, a researcher at Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, challenged claims that Britain’s lack of identity cards makes illegal work easier. “You have to demonstrate that you have the right to work. If an employer doesn’t carry out those checks, then they can face serious sanctions, fines and imprisonment. That’s the same in France and the UK,” he said.
Critics of the new measures warn they could increase dangers for migrants attempting the perilous crossing. Angele Vettorello from the Utopia 56 charity in Calais argued that the proposed interventions would “lead to even more deaths… more distress,” noting that 73 people died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024.
Reports suggest the trial methods could become routine procedure for French officers if they prove successful. The UK government has indicated that 9,000 crossings have been prevented from the French coastline this year, though officials remain pessimistic about reducing overall numbers before 2026.
The crisis has strained UK-French relations despite the new cooperation framework. British tabloids have criticized the effectiveness of UK funding, with The Sun complaining: “We pay for French cops’ buggy, 4x4s and drones, but migrants are still sailing.
As weather conditions improve heading into summer, both governments face mounting pressure to demonstrate that their new tactics can stem the flow of crossings. With over 44,000 migrants arriving via small boats since Labour took power, the political stakes continue to rise for Starmer’s government.
The introduction of jet skis and propeller-jamming nets represents the most aggressive French intervention strategy to date. Whether these measures prove more effective than previous efforts remains to be seen, but officials on both sides of the Channel insist they mark a turning point in enforcement capabilities.
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