UK border force ship returns Channel migrants to France for the first time as Keir Starmer and Emanuel Macron put on an old pals act at Blenheim Palace summit

By James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline And Dan Woodland

Published: 17:01 BST, 18 July 2024 | Updated: 17:14 BST, 18 July 2024

A UK border force ship has returned Channel migrants to France for the first time, it was revealed today.

Patrols off the coast of Gravelines in northern France saw people in the water yesterday, sparking a rescue operation aided by the British Border Force and RNLI.

Some 59 people were brought on board the French ship PSP Cormoran, including an unconscious person who could not be resuscitated by the medical team.

A British vessel, the Border Force Ranger, also saved 13 people from the water, and both ships took the group of people to Calais.

It is believed to be the first time that a British vessel has picked up migrants in French waters and been asked to return them to France.

However, government sources told MailOnline there is ‘no change of policy or approach’ and it was ‘just the way the operation played out’. 

The incident emerged as Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron put on a show of friendship at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace.

A jacket lies on the beach in Gravelines, where a group of migrants embarked from before running into trouble yesterday 

The incident emerged as Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron put on a show of friendship at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace

The year to date has been the busiest for crossings so far, with 14,759 migrants arriving between January 1 and July 16 – the most recent date for which figures are available. This compares to 14,622 in 2022, the second busiest year

The PM and President embraced in front of cameras, and are dining together this evening as Sir Keir tries to foster closer ties with the EU. 

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: ‘HM Coastguard received a report of a small boat in difficulty in French waters near Calais at about 2.40pm on July 17.

‘A Border Force vessel and RNLI lifeboat were sent to support French vessels in the operation, co-ordinated by French authorities.’

The French coastguard added that it continued to search the scene until nightfall and no further people were found in the water.

One Home Office source said: ‘There is ongoing cooperation on these kinds of rescue missions and consideration of where people are taken back to is generally based on conditions at sea and welfare of those who have been in the water. 

‘There’s no change of policy or approach so it’s just the way the operation played out.’

It is thought to be rare for British vessels to become involved in rescues near the French coast. 

Crossings continued today after no arrivals had been recorded since Monday, when 427 people landed in seven boats, according to latest Home Office figures.

More Channel migrants were brought into Dover Harbour this morning before being were taken ashore for processing

This brings the provisional total of migrants arriving via the English Channel in 2024 so far to 14,759.

Speaking today at the European Political Community summit, Sir Keir said: ‘Last week four more souls, and actually last night another one, were lost in the waters of the English Channel – a chilling reminder of the human cost of this vile trade,’ he said.

The new Government has launched a Border Security Command, which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described as Labour’s first priority on migration, designed to crack down on people-smuggling gangs orchestrating the crossings.

A commander for the unit is expected to be appointed in the coming weeks.

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UK border force ship returns Channel migrants to France for the first time as Keir Starmer and Emanuel Macron put on an old pals act at Blenheim Palace summit

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