French police raced into the water for the first time to prevent migrants clambering onto dinghies bound for Britain.
Heavily-armoured officers carrying riot shields surged into the shallow waters as a so-called taxi-boat arrived in Gravelines on Friday morning.
Bombshell pictures from the beach shows officers confronting groups of migrants, pushing them back onto shore.
It follows years of anger over French police standing idly by as migrants rushed past them and launched boats in an attempt to reach Britain.
Former Border Force Director General Tony Smith told the Daily Express: “If the French are now seriously intervening in shallow waters, then this could be a major breakthrough by the government in reducing small boat crossings.
“They have consistently refused to do this in the past.
“Although this is early days, and we will need to monitor what impact this has on asylum intake over the coming days and weeks.”
Dover MP Mike Tapp told the Daily Express: “This is what Yvette Cooper asked for, she used diplomatic skill to have the French change their laws on this.
“Now we can see the French step up and bring down these small boat crossings. Great stuff. If you’re looking to cross, stay in France.”
After years of criticism over their inaction, French interior ministry sources finally suggested they will target boats within 300 metres of the beaches.
This, they hope, will prevent people smugglers from using so-called taxi boats to pick up migrants waiting in the water.
French President Emmanuel Macron is said to want the strategy to be ready for the Franco-British on July 8, when he will meet Sir Keir Starmer in London.
France will also introduce six new patrol boats that will intercept the “taxi-boats” and rescue migrants.
Paris has refused to allow their police officers to intercept migrants in the water because they fear it could put lies at risk.
Fury erupted after an elite unit mobilised to stop Channel migrant crossings only intercepted 184 asylum seekers trying to reach Britain on a day of record crossings.
London and Paris agreed in February to establish the Compagnie de Marche, a group of specialist officers with “elite public order powers”.
The Compagnie de Marche will eventually be charged with intercepting boats in the water.
