New floating "anti-migrant" barrier in Calais

The local authority in Calais have set up a metal, floating barrier in an estuary that leads to the English Channel.

The barrier, which was deployed on August 10, is the latest attempt to stem the number of migrant crossings across the Channel.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that just over 19,000 migrants have made the crossing this year alone.

The line of yellow buoys and heavy metal chain is fixed by a pair of concrete anchoring blocks on the banks of the river.

The Pas-de-Calais Prefecture, who set up the barrier, intend to "complicate" the work of smugglers.

Authorities claim it will stop taxi-boats from reaching the shore and picking up migrants with a view to crossing the Channel.

The local authority in Calais set up the controversial floating barrier in an estuary that leads to the English Channel.

The barrier, which was deployed on August 10, is the latest attempt to stem the number of migrant crossings across the Channel.

This comes as many smugglers have had to adapt their journeys due to growing scrutiny from authorities.

Boats previously left directly from the French beaches - but this is now impossible due to the number of guarded patrols.

Smugglers have since turned to estuaries, like that at Étaples, to make the crossings.

Since the beginning of 2023, 22 taxi boats have been uncovered on the Canche river, with an average of 46 migrants per boat, according to the Pas-de-Calais Prefecture.

Defending the barrier, the Prefecture said: "The actions of human trafficking networks, motivated solely by the lure of profit, put would-be crossers in mortal danger on overloaded boats that are not suitable for navigation and have no lifejackets."

In 2022, 45,755 people reached the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to the Home Office.