A BBC news crew was attacked with stones by migrant smugglers in Calais, France, while investigating the increasingly sophisticated operations used to transport migrants across the English Channel. One journalist, the cameraman identified as Pol, required stitches after being struck above the eye.
The incident occurred as the crew was documenting criminal gangs who are reportedly preparing larger vessels, dubbed 'mega-dinghies,' for transit to Britain. Journalists attempted to film at a migrant camp but were confronted by smugglers. Despite agreeing to cease filming, one individual reportedly threw rocks at close range, striking the cameraman.
The crew managed to escape and return to their vehicle as they were pursued. The attack underscores the volatile nature of the smuggling operations and the challenges faced by those attempting to report on them.
Smuggling gangs are believed to be adapting their methods due to a shortage of smaller boats. This has led to a strategy of using fewer, but larger, vessels to transport more migrants. In a recent incident, a record 230 people crossed the Channel in a single small boat, a number exceeding the typical capacity of a commercial airliner.
This unprecedented crossing has led to accusations that authorities have lost control of illegal migration. French police have again faced scrutiny for their response to such incidents.
Sources indicate that criminal groups are preparing more of these larger dinghies. The cost per person has reportedly increased to approximately €2,000 (£1,700), a rise from around €1,300 a year ago, with payment often required in cash.
David Neal, former chief inspector of borders and immigration, noted that organized crime groups are adept at circumventing law enforcement measures. He suggested that the use of larger dinghies indicates a shift in tactics, potentially linked to a new manufacturer or a response to successful seizures of outboard motors. "If police manage to close down one avenue through which smugglers were obtaining dinghies and maritime equipment, the gangs will immediately switch to look for other manufacturers, importation routes, and so on," Neal stated.
Neal also warned that these larger vessels pose significant risks to life, increasing the danger of drowning, trampling, and crushing due to overcrowding. He suggested authorities might be more hesitant to approach these overloaded, unseaworthy dinghies due to the risk of destabilizing them with the wake from patrol boats.
"Traffickers care only about their profits and are indifferent to the safety of the migrants they smuggle," Neal added. "They will corral ever-higher numbers of migrants into these death-trap dinghies just to make money, with potentially disastrous consequences."
Despite these developments, overall Channel crossings by small boats have seen a seasonal decrease this summer, falling to their lowest levels since 2020. Between June and August, nearly 7,000 people made the journey. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood attributed this reduction to international cooperation efforts that have disrupted the supply chains for boats, lifebelts, and outboard motors used by smugglers.