Latest news with #jet skis
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Dramatic new jetski tactic used by French cops to stop migrant dinghies sailing to Britain revealed
FRENCH cops have secretly been using jet skis to lay nets in the sea to stop migrant boats sailing to Britain. The new tactic involves netting that jams a dinghy's propeller and brings it to a safe stop in shallow water. 2 It was part of a trial which also saw police wade into the water to puncture a migrant boat with a knife on Friday. The moves come ahead of a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron this week. He will announce strategies to allow cops to enter shallow water to stop the boats at a summit with Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday. Measures will be put into practice within weeks and eventually become a daily activity for officers. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Over the last few months, we have been working together on new ways to crackdown on the criminal gang operations, with the French now bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water. 'We need to stop at nothing to boost our border security.' The Tories had first planned to use jet skis in 2021 but the idea to intercept boats in British waters and spin them back to France was considered too dangerous. Whackier ideas discussed in previous years include wave machines, a floating 'wall' in the Channel and moving migrants to decommissioned oil platforms. Ms Cooper is also looking at cracking down on illegal work after the French blamed the UK's black market economy as a pull on migrants. Pressure is on after the number of people who have arrived in the UK by small boat this year passed 20,000 — despite £500million handed to France to curb crossings. French cops SLASH small boat & drag it to shore as conveniently placed BBC crew film scene And despite the tougher methods by the French this week boats have continued to set sail for Dover. A deal to return migrants to France in a 'one in, one out' scheme is still being worked out days before Mr Macron lands in the UK. It could see Channel migrants sent back to France and swapped for asylum seekers with family connections in the UK. 2
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Labour plan to use jet skies to thwart small boats crossing channel amid illegal immigration crisis
JET skis will be used to stop small boats under plans being floated in the Home Office to get a grip on illegal migration. The Sun can reveal that ministers are looking at innovative new tactics to thwart Channel crossings. 2 One method would see French officers on jet skis deploy netting in shallow water that would jam the dinghy's propeller and bring it to a safe stop. A government insider familiar with the plans likened it to how police use spike strips to burst a car's tyres. It is understood the Home Office are preparing to discuss using the gambit with their French counterparts. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is keen for Calais cops to do more to prevent crossings for the £500million of UK funding they have received. She has already convinced French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to change his country's law so they can turn boats around in the shallows. Ms Cooper is under pressure to slash small boat crossings, which are around 30 per cent higher this year than last. Some 11,516 illegal migrants have made the perilous Channel crossing already this year, compared to 8,826 in the same period in 2024. The Tories have slammed Labour for axing the Rwanda deportation plan, which they claimed would have been a deterrent for would-be illegal migrants. Instead Ms Cooper has focused on pouring money and resources into tackling criminal smuggling gangs organising the crossings. A plan to use jet skis was first devised by then Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel in 2021. Hamas fanatic FILMS himself arriving in Britain on small boat after terror thug posted pics with assault rifles However her idea was for mounted Border Force officers to intercept the craft in British waters and spin them back towards France. That method was never implemented following fears it would be too dangerous and could breach international law. Next week Ms Cooper will reveal her long-awaited blueprint to rein in record numbers of legal migrants. While mainly dedicated to cutting the amount of visas issued, the White Paper is also expected to address foreign offenders weaponising European human rights laws to dodge deportations.
