French border officers have been shown apparently handing life jackets to migrants crossing the English Channel, prompting accusations of “encouraging people smuggling”. GB News obtained damning new footage, filmed just ten days ago from a migrant boat, showing a French border patrol vessel—believed to be the Ridens—approaching a small boat carrying migrants.
French officials are seen throwing a batch of life jackets toward the boat, with the migrants visibly thanking them as they catch the vests. This footage has sparked outrage among UK politicians and border experts, who claim that such actions could be interpreted as facilitating illegal crossings. Tony Smith, former head of Border Force condemned the practice.
He told GB News: “We are paying the French quite a lot of money to stop human smuggling. By handing out life jackets to people already at sea, it doesn’t discourage people from getting into boats in the future.
“Smugglers will tell migrants that it’s a safe crossing because the French authorities will be there to help.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed these concerns, asserting that the French authorities should prevent boats from leaving French shores rather than assist them once they are at sea.
He said: “It is the responsibility of the French authorities to stop these boats before they launch, not to be handing out life jackets and waving people on.”
The video surfaced just after another report by GB News, which obtained a radio recording from last month revealing a conversation between French and UK authorities discussing the return of life jackets given to migrants.
A spokesperson from France’s North Sea maritime prefecture said life jackets were distributed based on risk assessments, but it is not a systematic practice.
However, Smith believes that the practice is counterproductive, urging the French to deploy such resources to prevent the boats from setting off.
He added: “If the French already have vessels capable of safely approaching migrant boats, why not use them to turn the boats around and bring them back to French waters?
“That’s the best way of saving lives, not handing out life jackets in the middle of the Channel.”
This year has already seen a record number of small boat migrants attempt the illegal crossing from France to the UK. As of early May, 11,516 migrants have made the journey—35% higher than at the same point in 2024.
Critics claim that despite efforts to tackle the issue, the numbers continue to rise.
Nigel Farage, Reform’s UK leader and MP for Clacton, has also weighed in on the issue.
Last month, he said: “I just don’t believe it. We have given France half a billion quid and now the Government are actually giving out lifejackets.”
While Mr Farage was not specifically commenting on the latest life jacket incident, his earlier remarks have sparked debate about the broader issue of migration and the failure to curb illegal crossings.
In the face of increasing pressure, a spokesperson for the Home Office reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling dangerous crossings.
A spokesman said: “The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay.
“We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”