'I will try again' Beyond talk of security measures, hope of reaching Britain persists

It is 5.45am, the dawn light strengthening. A large inflatable dinghy carrying 20 people or more has come discreetly to the east end of the beach at Gravelines.

- Dan Sabbagh

Though it looks packed from the shore, it is perhaps only two-thirds full, according to regular observers. Each person wears a fluorescent lifejacket, soon to embark on a risky crossing from France to the UK.

For a few minutes the boat halts several metres from shore, probably waiting for others to run from the scrubland behind the beach where some people spend all night hiding. But the only ones waiting today are a small group of journalists. Once it becomes clear there is nobody else to pick up, the boat's engine fires up, heading north-west to England, while one person onboard waves back with the sign of peace.

In London, where France's president, Emmanuel Macron, is visiting, further proposals are being discussed to stem the numbers of people coming to the UK in small boats. But yesterday morning in northern France, the more significant variables are the strength of the wind and the height of the waves: it is calm, ideal for crossing after days of higher winds.

As the dinghy heads off, it becomes clear that a small number of French police officers have been watching from the nearby dunes, about half a mile or so away. It is estimated that 1,800 officers patrol the coast - a security effort partly funded by Britain, which paid France about £480m for a threeyear deal ending in 2026 - but the size of the beaches and the length of the coastline used by migrants, roughly 70 miles, makes stopping all the boats impossible.

Even so, leaving is not simple.

Another dinghy got stuck in the mud as a group tried to embark from the canal that runs through the centre of Gravelines at about 5am. Though the migrants on board were rescued by the fire brigade, according to aid workers at migrant support group Utopia 56, the police then broke up a group that had collected using tear gas. Others then tried to restart the engine, but with the tide going out the effort failed, and they were stuck in the thick mud before being rescued.