French officials have warned that more migrant small boats are expected to attempt the long sea route to Britain's South Coast, following the arrival of a large dinghy in Portsmouth carrying 140 people. This marks a shift in tactics by people smugglers who are finding it more difficult to launch vessels from traditional departure points in Pas-de-Calais.
The 46-foot dinghy departed from an isolated beach near Jobourg in Normandy, a route of approximately 70 miles, significantly longer than the typical crossings between Calais and Dover. French rescue officials reported that the migrants aboard initially refused assistance after their outboard motor failed, but later accepted life jackets and were able to continue their journey after a second motor was made functional. The French Maritime Prefecture stated that migrants were not transferred to rescue vessels due to concerns about the dinghy's structural fragility.
This incident follows a day where 625 migrants reached Britain on Sunday, the highest daily total since late July. An additional, unconfirmed number of about 130 arrived early Monday. The arrival in Portsmouth led to protests, with demonstrators clashing with police.
British experts suggest the Home Office should prepare for a potential escalation of Channel crossings. Former chief inspector of borders and immigration, David Neal, noted that trafficking gangs are likely to exploit beaches further from security patrols. He urged the Home Office to develop plans for handling arrivals along the South Coast, emphasizing the need for safer disembarkation points to prevent public order incidents like those seen in Portsmouth. He also highlighted the increasing complexity of managing these crossings, both at sea and on land.
Former Border Force director general Tony Smith indicated that increased French patrols in Calais and Dunkirk might be contributing to displacement. He suggested that without France agreeing to take back migrant boats, an effective detention and removal policy in Britain would be necessary, potentially by excluding asylum and human rights claims for undocumented migrants.
Home Office figures indicate that 17,138 migrants have reached Britain by small boat so far this year, a decrease of 43% compared to the same period last year. The daily record for small boat arrivals remains 1,305, set in September 2022. Despite these figures, British officials have stated there is no current evidence that people smugglers have altered their tactics. The Prime Minister's official spokesman asserted that the government is actively managing the issue.