How often do French police stop small boat crossings?published at 13:06 British Summer Time
Rob England
BBC Verify senior data journalist
French police have stopped a small boat from crossing the English Channel to the UK this morning by slashing its inflatable hull.
Officers typically try to intercept boats before they launch, as French maritime law restricts their ability to intervene once vessels are in the water – unless those on board call for help.
But this morning’s incident was in “waist-deep water” according to the BBC’s Andrew Harding, who witnessed it happen on a beach south of Boulogne on France’s Channel coast.
So how often do French police step in?
According to official figures, there have been at least 12,130 instances this year where people were prevented from boarding small boats.
Recently, a gap has emerged between the number of preventions and successful crossings, with nearly 4,800 arrivals in the UK compared with about 2,700 preventions.
The BBC has previously reported on smugglers adapting their methods – including the use of “taxi boats” to ferry people out to vessels waiting just offshore, in an attempt to exploit French legal limits on water-based intervention.
France is now considering legislation to allow police to act once boats are in the water. However, some campaigners warn the move could endanger lives.