Riot police stop child migrants reaching beach in French town

Group trying to board small boat to cross English Channel

French police officers stop a group of people wearing lifejackets near a canal in Gravelines, France. PA

A large group of migrants, including small children, have been prevented from reaching a French beach to board a small boat by police with riot shields.

Just after 6am on Tuesday, more than 50 people wearing coats and life vests were seen in Gravelines, a popular departure point for asylum seekers hoping to make it to the UK.

At least 10 young children, most of them wearing large orange life jackets, were among the group of migrants. They appeared to be waiting for a dinghy to come up the canal which runs through Gravelines.

French police, armed with guns and tear gas, used their vehicles to block in and shepherd the group as they tried to get to the beach.

A woman with a baby strapped to her back was pushed back into the crowd by one officer as she tried to break through the police line. Cries and shouts of confusion were heard as the police forced the group to take a new route.

The police later left the migrants, who waited for a while longer beside the canal hoping to be picked up.

A black dinghy carrying a different group of migrants trying to reach the UK was spotted off the coast of Dunkirk at around 10.30am local time. It is thought three small boats set off from northern France towards Dover on Tuesday morning.

French police escort a group near a canal in Gravelines where migrants were trying to board a boat to cross the Channel. PA

The UK has been seeking closer co-operation with France to deal with the politically charged issue of small boats.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to “smash the gangs” responsible for people smuggling but the number of migrants arriving shows no sign of dropping. At the weekend, 1,298 crossed the English Channel, with 125 in one boat alone.

French police stop a group of migrants, including some small children, who were on their way to board a small boat to cross the English Channel. PA

More undocumented migrants are seeking to take advantage of good weather to make the perilous crossing across the Channel to England PA

A small boat carrying migrants is escorted by the French authorities as it leaves the coastline near Boulogne in France. PA

A woman walks with a young child near a canal in France, where migrants are attempting to board a small boat to cross the Channel. PA

Migrants hold their belongings as they queue to board a local bus in Gravelines, France. PA

Migrants on board a small boat off the coast of Dunkirk, France. PA

French security forces said they rescued almost 400 migrants from the Channel waters in one weekend. PA

Crossings have been continuing despite intense efforts by French and British authorities to stop the flow. PA

France has stationed police at dozens of departure points where migrants are seeking to board the boats. PA

Crossings have been continuing despite intense efforts by French and British authorities to stop the flow. PA

Under a recent scheme, the UK can return migrants to France, if they are considered to be ineligible for asylum. PA

French police stop a group of migrants, including some small children, who were on their way to board a small boat to cross the English Channel. PA

Mr Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed a ‘one in, one out’ scheme under which migrants arriving by small boat are deported back to France in return for refugees with an approved claim for asylum being allowed into the UK.

A handful of deportations have begun. Last week a family of three, including a small child, were the first refugees to arrive in the UK.

The French are also working on new rules of engagement which will allow police to board small boats up to 300 metres from the coast to stop them from reaching Britain. In 2024, small boat crossings made up 4 per cent of overall immigration to the UK, but more than 80 per cent of unauthorised arrivals.