The BBC has witnessed dramatic scenes on the seashores of Northern France this morning when a ship was destroyed by police moments earlier than it set off for the UK carrying dozens of migrants and asylum seekers.
Officers intervened as males, girls and youngsters have been about to depart the seashore, slashing the boat with a knife because it sat in very shallow water.
All of the individuals on board have been capable of make their means safely to shore.
With a pointy rise in numbers making the unlawful crossing this yr, the incident demonstrates the massive problem that authorities face in making an attempt to cease the smuggling operations that revenue from the route, and the difficulties French police.
Officers are prevented by regulation from intervening as soon as a ship is within the water, and function on a really prolonged expanse of French shoreline the place crossings depart.
