Small boat attempts continue from Belgium's beaches

Smugglers have made more attempts to launch small boats into the English Channel from beaches in Belgium, according to police.

It comes days after Belgian police told the BBC they were stepping up patrols, after smugglers targeted the Belgian coast, away from the main launch sites in France.

For a number of years there had only been isolated cases of migrants departing from the country's coastline, but several cases have been recorded in recent weeks.

The Home Office said it was working with international partners to drive down small boat crossings.

Westkust Police said on Wednesday night a vessel was launched in the coastal town of De Panne, with 14 passengers on board, and was intercepted in French waters by French police.

On Tuesday evening eight people were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after six vehicles were intercepted at locations in Nieuwpoort and Koksijde.

Nautical equipment was also discovered.

On 25 February, 15 migrants were discovered near Nieuwpoort marina and 22 people departed on a boat from the beach in Oostduinkerke on the night of 24 February.

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

The beaches of Calais and Gravelines near Dunkirk have been the main small boat launch sites since the number of crossings started to increase from 2018.

But the recent use of Belgium's coastline has led authorities to step up land and sea patrols, as well as from the air with the deployment of the Frontex aircraft.

David Raynes, who was part of HM Customs and Excise National Investigation Service, told BBC South East he was not surprised by the latest tactics.

"Thwarted smugglers constantly try new methods and routes," he said.

"The Belgian local administration need to be aware, if they let the smugglers settle to a new pattern, there will quickly develop camps and infrastructure similar to those in Calais.

"Prevention now, will be much cheaper than future cure," he added.

A Belgian Federal Police spokesperson said: "Crossing the Channel in a small boat is extremely dangerous and our goal is, of course, to stop all attempts to do so."

They added that information was exchanged daily with the French and British police.

In recent years the Home Office has provided its Belgian counterparts with additional resources to boost security.

They include special night goggles to use on the beaches, extra cameras, and additional drones with thermal cameras to see in the dark on the beaches and the dunes.

Speaking to the BBC in 2024, governor of the Province of West-Flanders Carl Decaluwé said one of his aims was to prevent migrant camps being established in his region.

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.

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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