A French NGO, Utopia 56, has raised serious concerns regarding the conduct of French police on beaches used by migrants to attempt Channel crossings. According to the organization, there has been a documented increase in the use of violence against individuals attempting to board small boats to reach the UK. The group reports that 2,720 people have claimed to be victims of police violence so far this year, a significant rise compared to the 1,954 reports recorded during the same timeframe in 2025, despite the fact that overall crossing numbers were higher last year.
In a briefing titled “Behind the figures: violent practices, the human cost of repression on the French coast,” the NGO argues that current enforcement activities—which receive funding from the UK—have made the journey more dangerous and disorganized. The report highlights that at least 21 people have died in the Channel so far this year. Furthermore, the organization has documented at least 10 instances of families being separated due to police interventions. One specific incident noted on 27 July involved a woman whose leg was run over by a French gendarmerie buggy as it sped across a beach to intercept a group of migrants.
The report serves as a direct response to recent Home Office announcements regarding the success of border enforcement. While official UK statistics show that crossings have decreased by more than 40% this year, with July numbers reaching their lowest point since 2020, the NGO contends that these figures overlook the human cost of the crackdown. The Home Office stated that between 27 April and 2 August, French officers successfully prevented 185 boats and over 4,300 people from attempting the crossing, while also seizing large quantities of engines, boats, and lifejackets. Utopia 56 argues that the seizure of lifejackets does not deter smugglers but instead increases the likelihood of drownings.
Utopia 56 accuses both the French and British governments of being “the architects of this chaos,” calling for an overhaul of the European asylum system and the establishment of safe routes. In response to the allegations, a Home Office spokesperson stated that the government is focused on restoring control at the border, noting that joint efforts have prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts and led to the seizure of 1,100 boats and engines since the election. The French interior ministry was approached for comment on the NGO's findings.
