Oral QuestionHome Office

What steps her Department is taking to stop small boat crossings.

Tabled: 1 July 2025Answered: 7 July 2025

Asked by

Sir Julian Lewis

ConservativeNew Forest East

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for the Home Department

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Yvette Cooper)

Small boat crossings undermine border security and put lives at risk. The criminal gangs have adapted their tactics to exploit French rules that prevent the authorities from intervening in French waters. The French Minister of the Interior and I agree that this needs to change. He has instigated a major maritime review to change tactics and operations, and we want to see these changes in place as soon as possible.