France is backing away from a recent commitment to intervene more forcefully at sea to stop small boats from crossing the English Channel, according to multiple sources contacted by the BBC.
Evidence suggests that France's current political turmoil is partly to blame, but this move could hinder the UK government's attempts to tackle the issue.
Dangerously overcrowded inflatable boats continue to depart daily from a shallow tidal canal near Dunkirk. The UK's border security chief, Martin Hewitt, has expressed frustration at French delays. However, BBC sources indicate that promises of a new maritime doctrine aimed at intercepting these boats seem to lack substance.
According to insiders close to French maritime security, It's just a political stunt. It's much blah-blah. Reports from the maritime prefecture for the Channel indicate that this doctrine is still under review.
Former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was viewed as a driving force behind a tougher approach, especially following a summit between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last July. The focus was on intercepting the so-called taxi boats used by smugglers, but French police rarely enforce interventions due to safety concerns.
Recent reports have documented multiple boats departing from the canal, raising alarm among local residents. A retired chip shop owner reported seeing four boats leave in a single day, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
While French authorities maintain that they are committed to beach patrols and intercepting smugglers on land, fears linger that these at-sea measures may never materialize due to political instability and burdensome legal implications.
Despite ongoing discussions regarding the rules of engagement for police and rescue operations, many feel that actual enforcement of these rules remains inadequate and plagued by a lack of resources.
Even volunteer rescue crews express frustration at the limitations imposed on them, with some local residents calling for more decisive action to combat the boats departing from French shores.
