LONDON

Children and babies attempting to reach the UK in small boats from northern France have been subjected to tear gas, rubber bullets and the slashing of their dinghies by French police, a new report has found.

The report titled “We Want to Be Safe,” published by the French NGO Project Play, paints a harrowing picture of the violence and trauma experienced by children at the UK-France border in 2024 — the deadliest year for child migrants on record.

Among the testimonies gathered from children and families were accounts of police using knives to stab inflatable boats during crossing attempts and deploying tear gas on beaches.

One 15-year-old, identified as Miel, told the organization: “The police bring out the knives and pepper spray, then guns. I was like… I’m only a child. Why are you doing this?... we want to be safe and that’s it.”

The NGO says that far from deterring dangerous journeys, the intensification of police intervention has only compounded the risk.

“Children have spoken of choking on water after the police stabbed the boats they were attempting to board, and of being in clouds of tear gas which hurt their eyes,” the report states.

Despite a slight drop in the number of children making the crossing, child fatalities surged by 1,500% last year.

At least 15 children lost their lives, compared with one the year before, according to the report.

Some died during failed crossings, others in the chaotic living conditions in northern France.

Project Play lays blame for these deaths on both the French and UK governments, which it accuses of jointly pursuing deterrence strategies under bilateral funding agreements.

“These are not tragic accidents – they are the consequence of deliberate political choices,” the report says.

The UK government has released new figures showing a record 19,982 small boat crossings in the first half of the year — a 40% increase compared with the same period in 2024.

The group is calling for an end to violent border operations, the creation of safe and accessible asylum routes, and the publication of official data on deaths at the border – something neither government currently provides.