France has backed away from their vow to intercept migrant boats, according to sources.

Callis’s officers were instructed to intervene more forcefully at sea to stop small boats from crossing the English Channel.

However, sources close to the operation claim that the French are not doing enough.

One figure closely linked to French maritime security described the efforts as a “political stunt”, adding: “It’s much blah-blah.”

Hundreds of small boat migrants continue to make the dangerous crossing, with Sir Keir Starmer’s “smash the gangs” policy failing to cut down numbers.

On Wednesday, the number of illegal arrivals on British shores overtook the total figure for 2024.

Two Border Force vessels arrived at Dover harbour, carrying 220 migrants, making the total so far this year 36,956.

The figure is 70 higher than the 36,816 migrants who crossed the Channel illegally the whole of last year.

Martin Hewitt, who is in charge of border security in the UK, has previously expressed “frustration” at French delays.

President Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister met in July to discuss plans, including intercepting “taxi boats” now used by smugglers to cruise close to the coast and pick up passengers.

The police intervention is seen as a risk to both officers and civilians, leaving the taxis unchallenged.

Sir Keir has repeatedly claimed that his “one-in, one-out” deal would deter small boats, but so far, just 42 people have been sent back to France.

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Former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, credited with a more aggressive approach to the channel crossings, has lost his job as minister in the latest of several chaotic reshuffles, and the French Government remains scrambled.

Speaking on whether new measures promised by the French authorities will ever come into force, Peter Walsh, from Oxford’s Migration Observatory, said: “It’s possible that might never happen.”

A marine expert with close ties to the state told the BBC that the Canal de L’Aa was shallow enough for security forces to intervene without putting people’s lives at serious risk.

Another source told the broadcaster: “The French navy is against this. They realise this kind of mission is extremely dangerous and they risk being implicated and ending up in court. It’s going to be a disaster.”

The Home Office described France as a “critical partner in tackling illegal migration” despite the reports of backing away from commitments.

A spokesman said: “We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders and stop migrants entering the country on small boats.

“France is a critical partner in tackling illegal migration and we continue to work closely together as they review their Maritime Doctrine, which will allow officers to intervene in shallow waters. We want to see the earliest possible deployment of these new tactics.

“And thanks to our landmark deal with the French, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed.”

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