Mayors in northern France have called on UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region to witness firsthand the escalating small boat crossings across the English Channel.
Ambleteuse Mayor Stéphane Pinto emphasized that UK-France cooperation is essential in tackling the crisis, urging Starmer to see the impact on local beaches. His call was echoed by Phillipe Mignonet, Calais’ deputy mayor in charge of security, who stressed that the prime minister must “come over and see this situation himself.”
Record Small Boat Crossings Amid Rising Migrant Deaths
The UK Home Office reported that 592 migrants crossed the Channel in 11 boats on Sunday, marking the highest daily total recorded in March. Additionally, French authorities rescued 24 migrants, with one in critical condition.
In 2024, 36,816 people crossed the Channel in small boats, a sharp rise from 29,437 in 2023, though still lower than the record 45,774 in 2022. The latest figures show a 20% increase in crossings compared to the same period in 2024, indicating the crisis is far from over.
Last year was also the deadliest on record for Channel crossings, with an estimated 78 people losing their lives attempting the perilous journey.
Migrant Camps in Calais Highlight Desperate Conditions
A BBC investigation uncovered a makeshift migrant camp in Calais, housed in a former wine warehouse with no toilets or running water, where hundreds of migrants live as they await opportunities to cross into the UK.
Among them is Zinki, a Sudanese migrant who has spent two months in the camp. He described the dangers of crossing the Channel, saying, “You see your brother die in the sea as you try to cross. Everyone has their own destiny.”
Akan, an Iranian migrant living in Dunkirk, shared a harrowing experience: “Our boat got a hole in it, and we were in the water for 30 minutes before a French boat rescued us. I thought we would die.”
UK and France Ramp Up Anti-Smuggling Measures
The UK Home Office has launched new enforcement strategies, deploying advanced surveillance technology and specialist police units to disrupt people-smuggling networks in northern France.
A spokesperson confirmed that over £7 million has been redirected towards strengthening UK-France law enforcement efforts. Despite these measures, when questioned about how the government plans to deter crossings, Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle bluntly stated, “One is they [migrants] may die.”
Meanwhile, charities continue to push for safer migration routes. Emily Featherstone from Care4Calais argued that humanitarian aid alone is not driving migration, stating, “What we offer in shoes, sleeping bags, and activities isn’t that amazing that people would travel here just for that.”
Calais MP Marc De Fleurian rejected proposals for joint UK-French patrols, asserting that British police presence on French soil would be seen as a “weakness” by local authorities.
As small boat crossings continue to surge, pressure mounts on both the UK and French governments to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
