French police have reportedly begun secretly deploying jet skis to deploy nets in the sea as a new tactic to halt migrant boats attempting to cross to Britain. This development comes ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Britain this week.
Disrupting Propellers and Piercing Dinghies
The new tactic involves placing nets that block the boat’s propeller, safely stopping it in shallow waters. This was part of a trial, during which officers also entered the water to puncture a dinghy with a knife on Friday, according to The Sun.
These actions precede President Macron’s visit, during which he is expected to announce new strategies allowing law enforcement to intervene in shallow waters to stop boats. These measures are anticipated to be implemented within weeks and subsequently become part of French officers’ daily operations.
UK-France Cooperation and Rising Pressure
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, “Over the past few months, we have worked together on new ways to crack down on criminal networks organizing crossings, and now the French side is using significant tactics to stop boats that are in the water.” She added, “We must stop at nothing to strengthen the security of our borders.”
British Conservatives had considered using jet skis as early as 2021, but the idea of stopping boats in British waters and returning them to France was deemed too risky. In previous years, more unusual ideas, such as wave-making machines and a floating “wall” in the English Channel, were also discussed. Meanwhile, Cooper is also examining measures against illegal work, as the French side has blamed Britain’s informal economy as a key pull factor for migrants.
Pressure has mounted as the number of people arriving in the UK by small boats this year has exceeded 20,000, despite £500 million provided to France to curb crossings. Even with these tougher new French methods, boats have continued to depart for Dover this week.
A “one-for-one” migrant return agreement, allowing migrants who cross the Channel to be returned to France in exchange for asylum seekers with family ties in the UK, is still under discussion days before Macron’s arrival in Britain.
