French police have intensified efforts to prevent migrant crossings of the English Channel by physically damaging inflatable boats used by migrants attempting to reach the United Kingdom. Video footage captured by the BBC and other sources shows French officers near Calais and Dunkirk slashing migrant dinghies with knives, forcing passengers to disembark. This practice, which is prohibited under international law, has been justified by French authorities only in cases of "immediate danger." Meanwhile, reports indicate that the French coastguard has been providing migrants with life jackets and water before escorting overcrowded boats across the Channel. This approach has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the facilitation of illegal crossings. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has urged French authorities to take stronger pushback measures in shallow waters, but such tactics appear limited. Additionally, Germany has been criticized for allowing the storage of migrant dinghies within its borders until the end of the year, with recent promises to act seen as insufficient by some observers. French police face ongoing challenges managing the rising number of migrant crossings in the region.