CALAIS, FRANCE — Migrants attempting to reach Britain are increasingly departing from beaches in Normandy and Cherbourg, routes that extend sea time from the typical 20 miles to nearly 80 miles and expose them to greater danger, French authorities report.
One recent boat departed from Normandy and spent more than 30 hours at sea before British Border Force intercepted it near Dover. In Seine-Maritime, a department neighboring Calais, authorities recorded 58 crossing attempts this year—a near doubling from 30 attempts in the same region last year.
Overall small boat crossings have declined. Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 27, 2026, 19,135 people crossed the English Channel from France by small boat, a 42 percent drop compared to the same period in 2025.
But the geographic footprint of smuggling operations has expanded. This month, a migrant boat launched from Cherbourg and was intercepted by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight.
"The increase in attempts and their spread further from northern France is clear," said Audrey Baconnais-Rosez, the local government representative in Seine-Maritime. She said authorities successfully stop half of these crossing attempts.
French law enforcement has reinforced the coastline between Dieppe and Le Havre with approximately 50 gendarmes and nearly 20 police officers in Dieppe to prevent departures. Baconnais-Rosez said some smugglers continue to attempt using ferries destined for Newhaven in Sussex, efforts French authorities are intercepting.
Dr. Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, said police disruption of boat launches in northern France is likely driving the shift. "Setting off from distant locations is not optimal for migrants," he said.
Journeys spanning 50 miles or more significantly increase danger. David McFarlane, a marine safety consultant, said extended voyages elevate the risk of hazardous sea conditions. Low-pressure systems over the Atlantic can produce swells and rising winds, creating waves up to 3.5 meters in the Channel. Migrants face greater risk of seasickness, dehydration, boats being swamped, and drowning.
