Migrants hoping to cross the English Channel are facing increasingly dangerous and chaotic conditions in northern France, with mounting violence reported at camps near Calais and Dunkirk – and one key factor is being blamed by officials. UK Government sources say a shortage of dinghies is fuelling unrest, with rival gangs and migrants clashing over limited spaces on boats.
Many are being turned away after paying hundreds or even thousands of euros to smugglers, only to be told there’s no room. Over the weekend, two migrants were shot dead in separate incidents near the town of Dunkirk. One man was killed on Sunday at a camp in Loon-Plage, a day after another man died in a similar shooting nearby.
French police said five others were wounded across the two incidents. All those involved are understood to be of Sudanese origin.
Both incidents are being investigated by French authorities with officers having since stepped up patrols amid soaring tensions.
The BBC, citing officials familiar with the matter, reported that one cause of the recent surge in violence is a growing shortage of dinghies.
Fewer boats mean more migrants are being left behind – sparking disputes between rival groups and making it harder for smugglers to maintain control.
Security forces on both sides of the Channel have reported a sharp rise in confrontations. In some cases, French police have been pelted with rocks, while video footage circulating online showed a group holding a young child between themselves and riot officers, apparently to deter the use of force.
One woman told French police she had been caught in tear gas during a recent confrontation.
Others said smugglers were using threats and violence to reinforce their grip on crossing routes, many of which are now being operated by heavily armed criminal networks.
Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, acknowledged that the situation was getting worse and said the UK may take a firmer line with countries that refuse to help return failed asylum seekers.
The Prime Minister said he favoured a “much more transactional” approach to immigration policy. He confirmed that the Government was looking at whether to link visa access to cooperation on deportations and enforcement.
He said: “We are looking at issues like a smarter use of our visas – looking at whether we should tie our visas to the work that the countries we’re dealing with are doing on preventative measures and on return agreements. Do we need to do more? Yes, we do.”
Official figures show more than 16,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year – a 42% increase on the same period in 2024. More than 1,500 made the journey in just one week.
The BBC also reported that French authorities are preparing to adopt a new maritime doctrine that would allow officers to intercept dinghies as close as 300 metres from the shore. The move is being finalised ahead of the UK-France summit on July 8, and is being described by UK officials as a potential “game changer.”
In 2023, the UK’s Conservative Government agreed to fund French patrols with nearly £500 million over three years. But so far this year, less than 58% of known crossing attempts have been intercepted, prompting Labour ministers to demand more robust enforcement.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said French policing methods are under review. Downing Street confirmed that Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to “work closely” on border issues, with the topic expected to dominate Mr Macron’s state visit to the UK next month.
Meanwhile, smugglers appear to be changing tactics. Rather than launching dinghies from open beaches, they are now ferrying migrants into the water to rendezvous with so-called “taxi boats” offshore – a method that helps avoid coastal patrols.
Conservative MPs have accused the Labour Government of losing control. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The Channel crisis is spiralling out of control. The gangs are laughing, the boats keep coming, and Labour’s response is to form another taskforce and hold a summit. It’s weak and it’s embarrassing.”
Labour scrapped the Rwanda deportation deal shortly after taking power, redirecting the funding into expanded border operations. But more than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel since July 2024 – a 21% increase on the previous year.
Ministers blame overcrowded dinghies and favourable weather. But the recent shootings are a stark reminder of the human toll – and the mounting pressure on both governments to find answers fast.