Lionel Gougelot, edited by Clément Perruche 10:10 am, September 14, 2021

Since the start of the year, 11,000 migrants have left the French coasts for England, angering Boris Johnson.

However, gendarmerie patrols are patrolling the French coast to prevent migrants from leaving.

Europe 1 was able to follow them exclusively.

REPORTING

It is a source of tension between London and Paris: the departure of migrants from the French coast to England.

Boris Johnson banged his fist on the table last week.

11,000 migrants have already made the crossing this year.

However, the gendarmerie actively monitors the French coast to prevent migrants from reaching the English coast.

Europe 1 was able to exclusively follow the patrols which monitor the beaches from which the boats leave.

>> READ ALSO -

 Channel: rescue of 126 migrants trying to reach England

Hiding places in the forest

The gendarmes survey the dunes along the coast, which they light up with flashlights.

That night, the patrol spots a hiding place in the middle of the vegetation as well as direct access to the beach by small paths to go directly to the boats.

"There are blankets, toothbrushes. Sometimes objects which suggest that there are children," explains one of the gendarmes.

The day before, about forty migrants were intercepted as they were about to embark on "a kind of zodiac, which they were in the process of finishing inflating", relates another gendarme.

>> READ ALSO - 

The shock announcements of Lecornu and Darmanin on immigration to Mayotte

An area difficult to control

But for a boat put out of working order, another has probably taken to sea. It is difficult to cover the entire coastline.

"It is not easy to access, especially as the smugglers sometimes arrive directly from the sea to pick up the candidates for the crossing. When the weather and sea firing window is good, the boats arrive by sea with a pilot. Once the boat is up to the point, the migrants leave their waiting area, get on board and leave immediately to try to counter the smuggling networks, "admitted the captain of Morestel.

New boats of the nautical brigade, financed by Great Britain, will come to reinforce the device next month.