French police could be given new tactics to stop crossings (Image: Getty)
Plans to intercept Channel migrant boats have been thrown into chaos after the French government was told to rewrite the rules given to officers.
The human rights watchdog in Paris, the Defender of Rights Claire Hedon, told gendarmes to stop using rubber bullets and tear gas to prevent asylum seekers from climbing into dinghies bound for Britain.
And Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has been “invited” to overhaul the rules and training given to officers on the Channel coastline, the Daily Express can reveal. This could undermine plans to intercept migrant dinghies at sea, as the organization is highly influential.
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The Defender of Rights told the Express: “A doctrine of use in the practice of security forces is defined at the highest level (in this case, the Minister of the Interior himself is invited to define the guidelines) and is expressed through circulars, notes, instructions given to agents, and is accompanied by appropriate training so that agents can adopt it and put it into practice in the field.
“The purpose of the doctrine is to define precisely, concretely, and comprehensively all the modalities of intervention by agents in a given context: setting objectives, framework for the use of weapons, modalities for implementing the obligation to report, role of the intermediate hierarchy, nature of equipment… and other…
“This doctrine helps to inform the practices of agents in the field; it is intended to guide them.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Express: “This shows even more weakness from the French Government. Most illegal immigrants already get through, and if these proposals are implemented, it will be open season for illegal immigrants and the people smugglers they pay.
“Floods of illegal immigrants – mainly young men – will cross the channel. The only way to stop these crossings is to exit the ECHR, which will enable every illegal immigrant to be deported within a week of arrival. Then they will soon stop trying.”
French officers had been nervous about intercepting migrants amid concerns about inadequate training.
But they intercepted a dinghy last Saturday amid fears over the success of so-called taxi boats.
Claire Hédon, the Defender of Rights in Paris, claimed the use of armed force 'endangers people', and has contributed to deaths and serious injuries among migrants.
Ms Hédon wrote: “The objective of preventing departures is understandable given the danger of the crossing, and law enforcement plays a protective role, but this cannot be done at any cost.”
Her report – dated December 17, 2025 – denounces the use of 'rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades' against groups of migrants, including children.
The Defender of Rights recommends “excluding the use” of such weapons, “when the sole purpose of the security forces is to prevent people from boarding a boat”.
Ms Hédon continues: “The use of intermediate force weapons endangers people.”