The mayor of Ambleteuse, Stéphane Pinto, has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to visit northern France to witness firsthand the impact of small boat crossings.
In his message, Mr. Pinto stressed the necessity of cooperation between the UK and France to address the ongoing crisis.
Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle highlighted the UK government's intensified efforts with French authorities, revealing that French police prevented 28,000 attempted Channel crossings last year. While Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Calais last week for discussions with officials, Dame Angela did not confirm whether the prime minister would accept the invitation.
Record numbers and rising fatalities
Recent Home Office figures show 36,816 people were detected crossing the Channel in small boats in 2024, an increase from 29,437 in 2023, though still below the peak of 45,774 in 2022. Tragically, 2023 marked the deadliest year for these crossings, with at least 78 people losing their lives.
Mr. Pinto urged action, stating, "We must implement measures to prevent more bodies from washing up on our beaches."
Life in the camps
The BBC has visited a migrant camp in Calais, located in an abandoned wine warehouse without running water or working toilets, home to hundreds of people. Among them is Zinki, a young man from Sudan who has been living there for two months while waiting for an opportunity to cross the Channel.
"I faced persecution at home," he said. "For us, England is the best option—the language is easier, and some have family there."
Despite his hopes, he acknowledged the risks. "You see your brother die in the sea as you try to cross. Everyone has their own destiny," he added.
In Dunkirk, another migrant, Akan from Iran, recounted a terrifying ordeal when his boat started sinking. "It is very dangerous. Our boat got a hole in it, and we were in the water for 30 minutes before a French rescue boat saved us. I thought we would die."
Political stalemate
Calais MP Marc De Fleurian dismissed the idea of joint patrols on French beaches, arguing that the presence of British police on French soil would be perceived as a sign of weakness. "I think it would be viewed very negatively by the French public," he said.
Meanwhile, Emily Featherstone from Care4Calais, a charity providing aid to migrants, stressed the need for safer routes. "No one is coming here just for a sleeping bag and a pair of shoes. People take this journey out of desperation," she said.
UK-French efforts and future measures
The UK government has announced new enforcement measures to disrupt smuggling networks, including advanced surveillance technology. A spokesperson confirmed that more than £7 million of existing funds have been redirected to bolster law enforcement against people-smuggling gangs.
When asked about deterrents to crossings, Dame Angela Eagle bluntly stated, "One is they [migrants] may die." Photo by Pline, Wikimedia commons.