Smugglers in small boats turn to Belgium's beaches

Smugglers have launched migrant small boats from beaches in Belgium away from the traditional sites around Calais and Dunkirk.

Belgian authorities say gangs are using so‑called "taxi boats" that move along the coast to pick up migrants in the water before heading towards France.

Westkust Police told the BBC there were no crossings in their zone last year and at least five this year, adding that teams are now conducting targeted checks.

The UK government has provided £1.3m to Belgian law enforcement to deter smuggling attempts.

Belgian police said in recent weeks there has been small boat activity off coastal towns including De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort.

On Wednesday night, 15 migrants were discovered near Nieuwpoort marina, police said.

A Westkust Police spokesperson said: "They were carrying a rubber inflatable boat, an outdoor motor, and jerry cans of gasoline. Of the fifteen people, only four were equipped with life jackets.

"The findings indicate that the group of men intended to cross to the United Kingdom."

Police have suggested the recent rise is because of increased pressure on smugglers in France.

Officials say journey attempts from Belgium have previously been limited because the crossing is longer than from France and currents are stronger.

Physical barriers have also been installed to make it harder to access beaches with trailers and boats.

Jarne Pollie, a journalist at state broadcaster VRT, said this was quite unusual.

"In the past they used De Panne, the town closest to the French border," he said.

"Now we also see attempts from Koksijde and Nieuwpoort, which is further away."

It is not the first time migrants have looked for new routes for boat launches.

Last year smugglers began making attempts much further south of Calais and Dunkirk in the Dieppe area -112 miles (180km) away.

Tony Smith, the former director general of the UK Border Force said it was an ongoing challenge.

He said it indicates that smuggling gangs "are quite happy to move their operations, to try and avoid any patrols either by the French or the Belgian police".

"It's obviously still quite a sophisticated operation that's going on over there," he added.

Retired Dover coastguard Andy Roberts said he was concerned about the health risks for those attempting longer journeys from Belgium.

He said: "The majority of migrants wade out to the boats that take them, so they're soaking wet up to their chest before they even set off.

"The boats are overcrowded and they're crossing the busiest thoroughfare for shipping in the world, it's extremely dangerous in every respect."

Jarne Pollie, a journalist at VRT, the state broadcaster in Flanders in Belgium, said 22 migrants were caught on Tuesday.

She said: "They were going from Koksijde to England and then one day later on Wednesday there was an attempt to smuggle 15 from Nieuwpoort.

"This is indeed quite unusual. From Belgium there was the tradition of transmigrants climbing into trucks and cross the sea from the port of Zeebrugge."

Government figures show 41,262 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year - the vast majority from France - a 13% increase in a year.

The figure remains lower than the peak of 45,774 in 2022.

Warmer weather has seen more people attempt to make the Channel crossing in recent days.

The government has pledged to "smash the smuggling gangs" in order to reduce the numbers crossing in small boats.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are driving down small boat crossings and disrupting criminal smuggling gangs through our work with international partners.

"Work with France has prevented 40,000 crossing attempts under this government, while joint action with Belgium has seen one of the largest suppliers of small boat parts behind bars."

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