The media reported on the piercing of migrant boats by French police in the English Channel

French police began piercing boats with migrants with knives when they were already sailing away from the shore in order to prevent them from crossing the English Channel. This was reported on July 5 by The Times newspaper.

It is noted that officers of the Compagnie de Marche specialized police unit, specially trained in combating public unrest, rushed into the water with knives to pierce an inflatable boat on which migrants were trying to swim across the strait.

According to the newspaper, the new police tactics are a harbinger of changes in French maritime law, which will allow officers to enter shallow waters to intercept boats with migrants.

It is also reported that French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss this initiative at the UK-France summit on July 8, which will also be the first official state visit by the leaders of the countries in 17 years.

In February, it was reported that the British authorities had tightened the procedure for obtaining citizenship in the country as part of measures to combat the increased influx of migrants, especially those arriving by small boats through the English Channel.