FRENCH cops appear very relaxed about the number of illegal migrants leaving their shores for Britain.
Our pictures of French officers kicking back in golf buggies come as the number of people arriving on dinghies since the crisis began was yesterday.
French officers kick back in golf buggies as small boat crossings are thought to have hit 200,000 Credit: Chris Eades
The officers made no attempt to stop boats from leaving Credit: Chris Eades
The officers made no attempt to stop boats from leaving — even though they are legally allowed to slash them in the water. However, they generally do not intervene once have tried to depart.
The 200,000 milestone was reached when a packed inflatable carrying around 70 asylum seekers pushed off from a cold and misty beach in Northern just after 6am as the French cops looked on.
It was escorted to the centre of the Channel by French rescue ship Ridens before being picked up by a Border Force cutter and taken to Dover.
Migrants on board were processed by officials and are likely to have been moved on to taxpayer-funded accommodation as early as this weekend.
Official figures showed 199,943 had crossed from the start of 2018 to May 7, meaning the 200,000 landmark is likely to be officially confirmed this morning.
leader said it reflected eight years of border errors.
He said: “The failure of the established political parties since 2018 is now laid bare. The British people have 200,000 more reasons to vote Reform.”
At least one more boat attempted to make a crossing yesterday morning but failed when it got stuck in the sand on Dunkirk’s busiest beach.
The French officers generally do not intervene once asylum seekers have tried to depart Credit: Chris Eades
Dozens of migrants were seen massing near the coast in Dunkirk Credit: Chris Eades
Dozens of migrants were seen massing near the coast as early as 3am after camping out in the town overnight.
And just after 4am on the anniversary of , migrants sprinted past a World War Two memorial and clambered aboard the Dover-bound dinghy.
Eventually, all those on board gave up and abandoned the craft, but were still left to walk free by cops.
Around 15 cars and vans had been patrolling the seafront and the side streets of Dunkirk on the lookout for would-be boat crossers.
The Home Office said it is “bearing down” on small boat crossings.
It said: “We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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