French authorities are set to use large nets to stop small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel, despite warnings that the tactic could be dangerous and cause deaths. The move comes as the UK pushes France to take tougher action against illegal crossings.
Since spring, some French law enforcement teams have been equipped with “arresting nets” up to 30 meters wide. These nets can block boat propellers, forcing vessels to stop or change direction. The nets can also be used to intercept boats involved in drug trafficking. Patrol teams will include maritime gendarmerie vessels, with French Navy support if needed.
However, union officials and coastguards have warned that using nets on overcrowded migrant boats is extremely risky. Rémi Vandeplanque, a French coastguard, said: “Whatever you do, you will create panic or distress, and one day there will be a disaster.” Many Channel deaths already occur near the coast, mostly from drowning or asphyxiation. So far in 2025, at least 26 people have died during crossings.
The French government has faced mounting pressure from the UK to prevent small boats from leaving French shores. A new “one in, one out” agreement between Paris and London allows some asylum seekers to be returned to France after crossing the Channel. Authorities also plan to target so-called “taxi boats,” which ferry migrants from beaches to larger vessels offshore.
French law enforcement officials are reportedly concerned about legal consequences if deaths occur during interceptions. The Ministry of the Interior has set criteria for interventions, such as confirming a boat is not a fishing or pleasure vessel and showing it is engaged in illegal activity. Despite these safeguards, unions call the plan “inhumane” and warn it could lead to fatalities.
More than 39,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far in 2025, a 19% increase compared to 2024. The issue remains a point of tension between Paris and London, with both governments cooperating to reduce crossings while balancing humanitarian and legal concerns.
Officials acknowledge that the pressure from the UK has been intense, affecting decision-making from junior staff to ministers. The French authorities continue to explore ways to curb illegal migration while avoiding risks to life.