France bans 10 British 'far-right activists' over anti-migrant activity
- Published
Ten British "far-right activists" have been banned from France after engaging in actions to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, the French interior ministry said on Wednesday.
It said the activists, who belonged to a group called Raise the Colours, had been searching for and destroying small boats along France's northern coast, and were involved in "propaganda activity".
Authorities have not released their identities.
In a statement, Raise the Colours said it had always maintained that its activities must remain peaceful and within the law and it "does not support violence or any unlawful activity".
The ministry said it became aware of the group's actions in December 2025 which were likely to cause "serious disturbances to public order".
Their efforts were "aimed at the British public, called upon to strengthen the ranks of the movement to put an end to the migratory phenomenon", the ministry said.
The 10 British nationals are prohibited from entering and residing in France.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said in a post on X that France's "rule of law is non-negotiable; actions that are violent in nature or incite hatred have no place on our territory".
Raise the Colours said it had not received any formal notification of France's measure but understood the ban was against "specific individuals, rather than the organisation as a whole".
The group described itself as a "grassroots movement for unity and patriotism" involved in a UK flag-raising campaign and that it had documented events in northern France around "illegal Channel crossings".
Its website stated that it did not support "vigilante behaviour, unauthorised activity, or attempts by individuals to take the law into their own hands".
How many people cross the English Channel in small boats?
Between 1 January and 14 January 2026, a total of 203 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France.
These crossings have become the most common way for people to be detected entering the UK illegally since 2020.
Nearly all those who arrive by small boat claim asylum. Under international law, this means they are allowed to stay in the country while their asylum application is considered.
Small boat arrivals made up 41% of asylum applications between October 2024 to September 2025.
Boats that arrived in the UK from 15 January 2025 to 14 January 2026 carried an average of 62 people. This has more than doubled since 2021.
Experts say overcrowding in boats makes crossings riskier. At least 84 people died while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations (UN).
When looking at the scale of small boats crossings, the number of these arrivals is about 5% of the size of total immigration into the UK from July 2024 to June 2025.
The government has pledged to “smash the gangs” behind these crossings in order to reduce the numbers.
Who is arriving in the UK on small boats?
People from Eritrea accounted for 17% of all arrivals from October 2024 to September 2025.
In the latest figures covering January 2024 to December 2024, at least 353 people who arrived by small boat were found to be potential victims of human trafficking or other forms of modern slavery, according to the Home Office.
How else do people stay in the UK without permission?
Another 5,590 people were detected entering the UK without permission via other methods including hiding in vehicles, travelling on ferries or through airports from October 2024 to September 2025. This was down by 17% on the same period the previous year.
There are also individuals who arrive legally, for example via a work or study visa, and then overstay their limit.
The total number of people who live in the UK illegally after arriving legally is not known.
BBC News contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment, who directed enquiries to the French authorities.
Home Office figures show that 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in 2025, a 13% rise from 2024. It is the highest number since 2022, when nearly 46,000 migrants crossed.
Between 1 January and 5 January 2026, a total of 32 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France.
Since last year, a social media account called Raise the Colours has been circulating videos of its activities in France.
Small boat crossings have become the most common way for people to be detected entering the UK illegally since 2020.
In November, following months of pressure from the UK, France agreed to start intercepting small boats in the Channel.
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- Published1 January
