50k Channel crossings blocked since election as France deploys riot cops

More than 50,000 attempts to cross the English Channel have been stopped since the UK general election, according to French operational data ^[1]. The figure includes efforts to launch small boats from the French coast, with authorities noting a rise in dangerous vessels being deployed further west in response to intensified operations near Calais.

In response, 50 specialist Compagnie Republicaine de Sécurité (CRS) officers—France’s primary anti-riot unit—will be deployed on high-risk days at French beaches. This marks a doubling of the existing unit size until March 2027 ^[1].

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the success of joint UK-France operations, stating that arrivals are down significantly and that every prevention is a blow to smuggling networks ^[1]. She also announced the creation of a new Small Boat Returns Taskforce to accelerate removals of individuals with no right to remain in the UK.

The UK’s first return agreement with mainland Europe since Brexit—signed with France—ended at the start of October. France has since urged Andy Burnham to negotiate a broader EU-wide returns deal ^[1].

Border Security Commander Duncan Capps highlighted the importance of joint operations, noting that this summer saw the lowest number of Channel arrivals since 2020 ^[1]. Recent successes include intercepting a taxi boat launched from Belgium on 28 September, preventing migrants from wading into the sea to board.

On 22 September, drone surveillance tracked a van carrying dinghy equipment, and on the same day, 100 migrants were intercepted en route to a boat. On 27 September, a suspected small boat pilot was arrested after boarding a taxi boat ^[1]. The story was first reported by Mirror.