French union opposes wading to boats over fears police may drown

FRENCH police sparked fury after revealing officers don’t “really want to go into the water” to stop record numbers of migrants.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

Union barons complained about a lack of training and equipment, adding they were yet to receive any new orders.

But the Daily Express can reveal French police could start intercepting migrant dinghies in the water next week.

Senior UK sources have told this newspaper operations will be ramped up “imminently”, with the Government expecting France to finally follow through on repeated promises “next week”. A senior border source told the Scottish Daily Express the move is “aimed at stopping the taxi boats that travel from inland canals out to the Channel, picking up migrants along the way”

This follows “pilot schemes” over the summer, when officers were seen wading into the water and slashing migrant dinghies, forcing people back onto the beaches.