People attempting to reach Britain via the Channel were teargassed by French police overnight.
Footage shared by GB News shows officers firing cannons in volleys and clashing with a large group as they attempted to board an inflatable boat near Dunkirk.
The scenes unfolded as 40,652 people have made the treacherous deadly since the start of 2025, according to the latest government figures.
While the number has risen more swiftly in 2025 than past years, the yearly total has still not surpassed that of 2022, when 45,755 arrived – the highest on record.
Groups of people thought to be migrants have been brought into Dover by the Border Force early this morning, after a series of overnight crossings.
Meanwhile, the government meanwhile continues efforts to grasp the so-called ‘upstream’ causes of the migration crisis, including through work with neighbouring countries.
Just this week, Germany passed a new law which could see smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for trying to bring people to the UK.
The law change, which will come into force before the end of the year, aims to give more powers to law enforcement and prosecutors, and boost information sharing between the UK and Germany.
It follows a deal agreed between the two countries in December last year to tackle illegal migration, including taking action to remove smugglers’ advertising on social media.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘This major change in German law is the result of our close partnership working to tackle illegal migration and organised immigration crime.
‘We will continue to ramp up our international co-operation to strengthen our own border security.’
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