Paris, July 4, 2025 — As the number of migrants trying to cross the English Channel using small taxi boats increases dramatically, questions have arisen as to how often French police actively intercept such risky journeys near coast.
Between January and June of 2025, approximately 15,000 migrants arrived by small boats into Britain – representing a 42% increase from 2024’s arrivals of this same period, as reported by MigrationObservatory.ox.ac.uk +15 and Times.co.uk and Apnews.com respectively.
But according to UK government data, French authorities intercepted only 38% of boats in early 2025–down from 47% in 2023–raising concerns over enforcement efficacy, according to The Times of London.
Official UK data indicates that on May 31, 2025, approximately 1,370 migrants attempted the Channel crossing by small boat; French police intercepted only 184 vessels – or 13 percent of total attempts that day (The Guardian.com and The Times both have coverage), whilst Reuter’s reports.
Overall, in the first five months of 2025 approximately 14,812 migrants entered the UK – which UK officials consider “worst ever”, yet without an increase in interceptions (according to news.sky.com).
French law currently limits police operations within 300 metres of shore unless lives are at stake; however, France has indicated plans to permit more intervention further out at sea by police forces, leading humanitarian groups–including Utopia 56–to warn of increasing risks to vulnerable migrants by pushing enforcement offshore. for more on this story visit these links: (* * +9) for news ( **8) (. +9
At an upcoming Franco-British summit in June, ministers are expected to push for French police to intercept boats earlier and prevent tragedies closer to shore from occurring. France and UK share approximately EUR480 million in joint funding intended to strengthen patrols, drones and quad bikes but some question whether increased funding translates to effective action; according to Reuter’s.com
Over the past week from June 26 to July 2, crossings totaling 1,682 migrants on 32 boats reached their limits of detection capacity, signaling both persistent movement and limited capacity to intercept.
Migration Observatory at Oxford University reports that in the first five months of 2025 alone, 14,800 migrants crossed borders — more than in any prior period — while France’s interception rate has not been sufficient to stop their flow.
Human rights groups have voiced serious concerns over how law enforcement agencies are handling enforcement. Some migrants have reported French police using tear gas and rubber bullets against families with children, which raises serious humanitarian concerns.
Statistics from recent years demonstrate the magnitude of this problem:
In 2024, approximately 36,800 people crossed by boat – 25 percent more than in 2023–and at least 73 died during their perilous voyage, according to migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk’s estimates.
So far in 2025, more than 14,800 migrants have made their journey across Europe – already setting a record.
thesun.ie + 2 by sky.com +2 and thetimes.co.uk with +2.
With at least 14 migrants and children having died in the Channel in 2025 alone, including France–at least 14–increasing fatalities is increasing resulting in calls to empower French patrols more aggressively to intervene further out at sea.
Legal and logistical obstacles remain. French unions fear liability if police operate further offshore; charities warn such moves could lead to more secretive–and potentially lethal–crossings, according to The Guardian.com.
As UK and French officials prepare to discuss new rules at their July summit, an important question remains: Will enhanced interception powers translate to fewer vessels passing unchecked–and thereby saving more lives?