French officials are warning of an increase in migrant small boat crossings to Britain's South Coast following the arrival of a large dinghy carrying 140 people in Portsmouth. This vessel's journey of approximately 70 miles from the Normandy coast represents a significant shift from the traditional routes used by people smugglers between Calais and Dover.
A senior source within the French interior ministry indicated that smugglers are encountering greater difficulty launching boats from the Pas-de-Calais region, leading them to move their operations west to Normandy. "We expect far more of the mega-dinghies to appear here in the coming weeks and months," the source stated, adding that the success of the Portsmouth crossing proves the voyage is feasible. This departure point from an unpatrolled, isolated beach near Jobourg, Normandy, highlighted a new tactic.
The dinghy, a 46-foot mega-dinghy, experienced engine failure shortly after departing in the early hours of Sunday. Migrants on board made Mayday calls but initially refused rescue by French authorities, who provided life jackets before a second outboard motor was made functional. French rescue services and helicopters monitored the 14-hour crossing, citing concerns about the dinghy's structural integrity as the reason for not transferring migrants to rescue vessels.
The arrival in Portsmouth on Sunday saw 625 migrants reach Britain, the highest daily total since late July. An unconfirmed number, estimated at around 130, arrived early Monday. The landing in Portsmouth led to protests, with demonstrators clashing with police.
British experts are urging the Home Office to prepare for a potential escalation of Channel crossings. Former chief inspector of borders and immigration, David Neal, advised that trafficking gangs are likely to increasingly launch boats from areas away from main security patrols. He emphasized the need for detailed plans to manage arrivals along the South Coast, including establishing safer and more accessible disembarkation points to prevent public order incidents like those seen in Portsmouth.
Former Border Force director general Tony Smith suggested that increased patrols in areas like Calais and Dunkirk may lead to displacement, making such long-distance crossings inevitable. He argued that without France taking back migrant boats, an effective detention and removal system in Britain would be necessary to deter illegal crossings.
Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones expressed concern that Portsmouth could become a preferred destination for people smugglers, potentially spreading arrivals across hundreds of miles of coastline. Policing minister Sarah Jones acknowledged awareness of potential crossings on less frequently patrolled stretches of water.
Official figures indicate that over 209,000 migrants have reached Britain since 2018. The running total for the current year stands at 17,138, a decrease of 43 percent compared to the same period last year. The highest daily total for small boat arrivals on record is 1,305, set in September 2022. Despite these warnings, British officials stated there was no current evidence that people smugglers had altered their tactics.