Héloïse Longuet, a mother of two, described her 19th-century family farmhouse on the English Channel coast south of Boulogne-sur-Mer as being surrounded by young men living in illegal squats. These individuals are drawn to the area by criminal networks charging approximately £1,000 per person for passage to Britain on overcrowded dinghies.
Ms. Longuet stated that her property, which the family was renovating as a holiday home, has become a point of congregation for these men. They gather outside, checking phones for coordinates provided by smugglers, before attempting to reach the beach. While her land does not offer direct beach access, she reported at least three instances of incursions.
CCTV cameras were installed with warning signs in response to the situation. "The situation is appalling, and the dangers are immense, but very little is done about it," Ms. Longuet said, adding that she does not hold far-right views but desires an improved situation for residents.
She expressed sympathy for the migrants, recounting stories from Afghans who described perilous journeys where many died en route to France. However, she strongly condemned the smugglers, viewing their operations as a business that exploits vulnerable individuals. "The problem is bigger than domestic politics – it is a global problem," she noted.
The area, including Hardelot beach, has become a more frequent departure point for migrant crossings. The wide shoreline facilitates the boarding of dinghies, with migrants previously hiding in sand dunes. This has led to several incidents, including a recent capsize that resulted in one death and multiple injuries, and two earlier deaths from suffocation on a boat from Hardelot beach.
Fights between migrants and police, sometimes involving tear gas, have occurred, and fires have broken out around Hardelot, particularly during summer heatwaves. Paulette Juilien-Peuvion, the mayor of Neufchâtel-Hardelot, indicated that up to 600 migrants can congregate in the town at any one time, leading some residents to report feeling unsafe.
Despite the concerns, French law enforcement authorities maintain that the migrant situation is improving due to increased policing. According to an Interior Ministry source in Paris, officers have prevented 185 small boat crossings in the four months since a new Anglo-French agreement was signed in April, which includes £660 million of UK taxpayer funding. Police report an increase in arrests of smugglers and confiscation of equipment. Official figures indicate that approximately 15,897 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, a decrease compared to the same periods in previous years.