French police have unleashed a new weapon on migrant boats as part of a new strategy to stop crossings across the English Channel.
French security forces are understood to be using jet skis to deploy nets in the sea.
The nets are thought to be used to jam the propeller of the small boats and bring them to a halt.
The Sun reported that this new measure, as well as a knife-puncturing move seen last week, are part of a series of trial methods in an attempt to stop the number of migrants reaching the UK.
GETTY
|French police recently slashed a small boat, which was met with praise by the Government
PA
|French police watching migrants from the shore
It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Sir Keir Starmer, with the small boat crisis being at the top of the meeting agenda.
Reports suggest the measures being trialled will become routine for officers, potentially suggesting initial success.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Over the last few months, we have been working together on new ways to crackdown on the criminal gang operations, with the French now bringing in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water.
"We need to stop at nothing to boost our border security."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
PA
|French police heading out to intercept a migrant boat
The idea of jet skis was initially proposed by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, who wanted to mimic tactics used by the Greek Navy, which has been successful in pushing boats back into Turkish waters.
The initial plan saw officials learning how to redirect migrants using "personal watercraft".
However, it was cancelled in 2022 before a High Court legal challenge.
French police have been restricted from interfering with boats more than 10 feet from the coast, but that rule is in the process of being scrapped.
GETTY
|Some 21,000 small boat migrants have arrived in the UK so far, with at least 4,000 of them coming from Afghanistan
No10 called the recent actions from French police a "significant moment" that could have "a major impact" on the people smuggling gangs.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "No Government has been able to get this level of cooperation with the French. That is important.
"We are looking to see France change its maritime tactics, and that is down to the Prime Minister's efforts to reset our relationship across Europe."
The UK recently eclipsed 21,000 small boat migrants crossing the channel, making it the earliest point in the calendar year the figure has been achieved.
Since Labour entered power, more than 44,000 migrants have reached British shores via small boats.