The lack of action from the French authorities comes as the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) Missing Migrants Project found a record 14 children died crossing the Channel last year. And 2025 is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30% on the number recorded at this point last year.

French police watch on and do nothing

French police did nothing as the migrants were loaded onto the dangerous boats (Image: Getty)

Despite the close proximity to the small boats, the French police officers seem reluctant to take any action despite the risk of danger to the children entering the boats.

There have not been any arrivals of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats for a week, but today six flimsy boats left France for UK shores.

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs. The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings.

Sunny weather is forecast on Saturday with some areas potentially hitting 27C.

 child being passed

A child in tears as he is passed into one of the dangerous boats (Image: PA)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed the scenes of more migrants crossing and wrote on his X account: “On the day that we learn migrant benefits cost us £1bn a month, many hundreds are currently crossing the English Channel.

“Labour are ruining our country.”