French police entering the sea with knives to tackle illegal migration

Officers have reportedly begun puncturing the rubber boats used for English Channel crossings from France to Britain

French police have begun using knives to slash inflatable dinghies used by illegal migrants attempting to cross the English Channel to reach the British coast, according to video footage aired by the BBC. Employed for the first time, the tactic is expected to give officers greater powers to prevent illegal crossings, The Times reported on Friday.

BBC footage released the same day showed a group of police officers approaching a rubber boat packed with migrants as it attempted to push away from the shore, puncturing the vessel before it could depart for the UK. The deflated dinghy was later seen being dragged back to land.

The practice of puncturing rubber boats already in the water comes as a “precursor” to an anticipated change in French maritime law, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by the BBC. The impending update will reportedly allow officers from the specialized Compagnie de Marche policing unit to reach migrant dinghies not only on beaches but also in shallow coastal waters before they can launch into the Channel. Current rules allow police to only intervene at sea in rescue operations.

France and Britain are expected to formally unveil the new enforcement measures next week at a bilateral summit, where the two nations will discuss cooperation on reducing small-boat crossings in the Channel. The step forms part of a renewed partnership to tackle illegal migration and strengthen border security. The measures are reportedly set to be implemented later this month.

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The decades-long migrant crisis largely stems from conflict, poverty, and political instability across regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Western interventions, including wars in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, as well as support for uprisings in Syria, have exacerbated these conditions, destabilizing governments and fueling violence. As a result, many people have been forced to flee, making today’s migration challenges, in part, a consequence of past foreign policies.

Earlier this week, the UK Home Office reported that the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats during the first half of 2025 totaled 19,982, marking a 50% increase over the same period last year. The figure is also 75% higher than the 11,433 recorded in 2023.