French Police Intervene at Sea to Halt Migrant Boats

French police have escalated efforts to stop migrant crossings to the UK by puncturing inflatable boats in shallow waters off the northern coast, marking their first intervention at sea. In one incident, officers slashed a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants, including women and children. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised the move as a welcome shift in Anglo-French cooperation to combat smuggling gangs. Over 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, up nearly 50% from last year, prompting calls for stronger enforcement and new legal measures. President Macron and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau are expected to formalize these tactics at an upcoming UK-France summit. While French officials say interventions at sea remain limited to situations where lives are at risk due to maritime law, both governments are working to expand operational cooperation.