Channel crisis deepens as director of France-backed film tells migrants 'call 999' and 'UK rescue will come'

By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT Published: 17:06, 10 May 2026 | Updated: 17:12, 10 May 2026 France's commitment to ending the Channel migrant crisis has been questioned after it emerged that it had funded a film which features tips on how to reach the UK. Just weeks ago Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood gave France £662million of UK taxpayer money to stop the flow of asylum seekers risking their lives to reach Britain’s shores. So there was fury when it emerged that an activist had been handed French taxpayers’ money to produce a film in which he advises migrants that if they ‘call 999’ then ‘UK rescue will come’. Following the arrival of the 200,000th Channel migrant since the start of the small boat crisis, it represents the latest criticism of whether Paris is doing enough to stop the flow. By contrast, a tough-talking police chief in neighbouring Belgium has called for small boats leaving his country to be stopped by 'a naval barrier' to prevent them ever reaching the UK. In a behind-the-scenes clip from the new movie, entitled Tomorrow UK Inch’Allah, director Thomas Grandrémy is seen talking to a would-be boat migrant. He asks: ‘You know how it works? When you are in the middle of the sea, you call 999. Belgian police chief Christiaan De Ridder has called for small boats leaving his country to be stopped by ‘a naval barrier’ to prevent them ever reaching the UK. PIctured: Migrants preparing to board a small boat at Gravelines in North France on May 9, 2026 The documentary was produced ‘in participation with’ the French taxpayer-funded TV channel France 3. It was also supported by France’s publicly owned film agency, which hands out creative grants of up to €100,000 (£86,500). While British taxpayer funds are ring-fenced for use on beefing up France’s border, critics said it showed the French authorities were not serious about halting the boats. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Sun on Sunday: ‘It is disgraceful that this French film director is encouraging illegal immigration.’ In contrast to the French policy of escorting the vessels safely into British waters rather than intercepting them, Belgium has launched a wave of arrests, with 40 suspected smugglers held since January. Backing the tougher response, Christiaan De Ridder, Deputy Chief of West Flanders Police, told the BBC the priority was to intercept small boat migrants before they could reach the UK. ‘If we could put up a naval barrier so they don't get into French waters, everything would stop,' he said. Last week, some French police took decisive action and slashed a migrant dinghy on a beach near Calais, but the officers were then reported to a human rights watchdog for doing so. Film-maker Thomas Grandrémy seen telling a would-be boat migrant: 'When you are in the middle of the sea, you call 999. Then UK rescue will come.’ A Home Office spokesman said: ‘This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings. ‘The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars. ‘This builds on joint work that has stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the Channel since the election.’ Calling 999 does not affect the chance of Channel migrants being rescued as they are normally being tracked by UK Border Force anyway, it is understood. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.