Feckless French authorities were seen standing by and doing nothing today as illegal migrants carried toddlers onto dangerously overloaded small boats ready to cross the Channel for Britain. In infuriating scenes the French police officers were seen with their hands on their hips and with their mobile phones out filming the moment the youngsters were crammed onto the deathtrap vessels.

French authorities are failing to stop almost two-thirds of would-be Channel-crossing migrants, despite Britain paying our European neighbour almost £500,000 every day to do so. These astounding images were taken on the beaches of northern France this morning (Saturday May 31) in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk. Many of the very young children can be seen bursting into tears as their families try to squeeze them on board the inflatable craft about to set sail for England.

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The lack of action from the French authorities comes as the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) Missing Migrants Project found a record 14 children died crossing the Channel last year. And 2025 is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30% on the number recorded at this point last year.

Despite the close proximity to the small boats, the French police officers seem reluctant to take any action despite the risk of danger to the children entering the boats.

There have not been any arrivals of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats for a week, but today six flimsy boats left France for UK shores.

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs. The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings.

Sunny weather is forecast on Saturday with some areas potentially hitting 27C.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed the scenes of more migrants crossing and wrote on his X account: “On the day that we learn migrant benefits cost us £1bn a month, many hundreds are currently crossing the English Channel.

“Labour are ruining our country.”

Express.co.uk have contacted the Home Office for comment