BBC on French beach as police slash migrant 'taxi-boat' heading to UK

The BBC's Andrew Harding saw French gendarmes using knives to slash an inflatable small boat, packed with men, women and children.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveWatch: French police wade into sea to slash migrant 'taxi-boat' The BBC has witnessed dramatic scenes on the beaches of Northern France this morning when a boat was destroyed by police moments before it set off for the UK carrying dozens of migrants and asylum seekers.

Officers intervened as men, women and children were about to leave the beach, slashing the boat with a knife as it sat in very shallow water.

All the people on board were able to make their way safely to shore.

With a sharp rise in numbers making the illegal crossing this year, the incident demonstrates the huge challenge that authorities face in trying to stop the smuggling operations that profit from the route, and the difficulties French police.

Officers are prevented by law from intervening once a boat is in the water, and operate on a very lengthy expanse of French coastline where crossings depart.