French police used tear gas to confront a group of migrants attempting to launch a dinghy from the northern coast on Saturday morning, in a violent incident that preceded the arrival of at least 700 people on small boats in the UK the same day.
Clashes in Grand-Fort-Philippe
The confrontation took place in the early hours in the town of Grand-Fort-Philippe, north of Calais. Around 30 migrants were involved, pushing a small boat down a river before being intercepted by members of the French gendarmerie. Footage shared by GB News captured the moment police fired volleys of tear gas, with migrants heard shouting in response.
This marked the second consecutive weekend of significant Channel crossing activity, following a near month-long pause due to poor weather. As winds subsided this week, people smugglers seized the opportunity, pushing hundreds more migrants into unseaworthy vessels.
Surge in Crossings Smashes Milestones
The scale of the weekend's arrivals is stark. On Saturday alone, approximately 700 migrants reached the UK aboard small boats. This surge likely means the total number of people who have made the illegal crossing this year has now smashed the 40,000 milestone.
Official figures show that up until last Saturday, 39,292 migrants had crossed in 2024. This already exceeds the 36,816 who crossed in the whole of last year and is closing in on the annual record of 45,755 set in 2022.
The previous weekend, on December 13, at least 600 migrants crossed in what were the first arrivals in 28 days, ending the longest uninterrupted period without crossings since autumn 2018. Smugglers used so-called 'mega dinghies'—inflatable boats nearly 40ft long capable of carrying over 100 people.
Government Response and Political Claims
A Home Office spokesperson condemned the crossings, stating: 'The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better.' The statement highlighted government action, including the removal of almost 50,000 people and a deal with France to return those who arrive on small boats.
The surge has ignited political controversy. Labour MP Tristan Osborne had claimed on social media platform X that the recent pause in crossings showed progress, writing: 'Under Labour the longest stretch without boat crossings since the surge started.' However, within 12 hours of his post, hundreds of migrants began embarking from multiple points along the French coast.
The sudden influx prompted an 'indigo' alert in the Channel, with four UK Border Force vessels—Hurricane, Ranger, Typhoon, and Volunteer—deployed to sea.
The incident near Calais and the subsequent mass arrivals underscore the ongoing and volatile nature of the Channel migrant crisis, with crossings heavily dependent on weather windows and intensifying political debate over border security and immigration policy.
