The BBC watched groups of migrants boarding an inflatable dinghy on the Gravelines beach in northern France.
BBC Breakfast interrupted for breaking migrant alert as viewers left outraged (Image: BBC)
BBC Breakfast hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty paused their live coverage for an update on the migrant crisis. Charlie began: “A BBC Breakfast investigation has found criminal groups who illegally smuggle people across the English Channel are running low on small boats. Gang members have told BBC sources that rival factions now aim to work together to load migrants onto fewer larger vessels, also charging them more.”
Naga added: “The number of crossings is currently at a six year low. Ministers have credited the French police force for intercepting more crossing attempts.” BBC‘s Paris correspondent James Waterhouse who was live in Gravelines beach in northern France waded into the water to speak directly to migrants attempting to cross the Channel.
It comes after ministers were accused of “losing control” of illegal Channel crossings, and the French police again found themselves criticised for not intervening. The image of a 15-metre long small boat carrying a record 230 migrants towards the UK drew condemnation from both newspapers and politicians.
New reports state migrant gangs are running low on small boats. And once rival criminal groups are now having to work together by loading more migrants on fewer, larger vessels – just like the “mega dinghy”. The UK and France are announcing measures to increase the number of police officers on the French coast in order to try to stop the migrants.
The latest initiative comes as Andy Burnham prepares to host French President Emmanuel Macron at Downing Street for the first time since becoming prime minister.
Charlie described the footage as “startling” as he asked the correspondent what he witnessed first hand and what had surprised him most.
James explained they had been countless times and he said there is a growing frustration among the people smugglers where more vessels are being intercepted.
Today, the gangs are quoting up to €2,000 (£1,700) per person. It used to be around €1,300 just a year ago. Their passengers also have to now pay in cash, to ensure commitment.
James commented: “It seems the French police are becoming more willing to intervene but they – still to the frustration of the British – won’t intercept a boat in the water over fears of drowning.”
He described the dinghies taking migrants across the Channel as a coordinated and orderly taxi service.
One outraged viewer fumed: “So the gangs are just switching to bigger dinghies… classic. They’re not slowing down, they’re scaling up. Brilliant work from everyone involved.”
A second raged: “YES, But the boats are 10x BIGGER!!!!”
A third penned: “I suppose the statistic that matters is not the number of small boats that arrive, but rather the number of passengers, independent of boat size.”
Hitting out at the BBC a viewer commented: “Dear God, the numbers are going down, do you have to stir up unrest with this puerile crap?”
While a fifth remarked: “So the fact that the number of immigrants is going down & returns are at record levels (regardless of boat size) appears to mean nothing to the BBC.”