Watch As British vigilantes slash small boats on French coastline in bid to stop Channel crossings
British activists have started travelling to beaches in northern France, filming themselves damaging small boats that could be used for Channel crossings – and then posting the footage online, where it is getting thousands of views.
These self-described “patriots” are linked to the Raise the Colours movement, the same group that has been putting England and Union Jack flags on lampposts, motorway bridges and roundabouts across the country. Now, instead of just hanging flags, some of them say they are taking direct action to try to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
They are calling this new campaign “Operation Stop The Boats”. In their videos, they show themselves walking along the French coastline, slashing dinghies and smashing boat engines that they claim are used by people-smuggling gangs. They say their aim is to “destroy” the boats before migrants can get to them.
On social media, group members urge other British men to join them in France. In one clip, a man says he is on the northern French coast and compares what they are doing to the fight against Nazi Germany in the Second World War. He says: “Just like in the 1940s, we must take a stand, and it starts with the men of England and Britain.”
Next to him, another man speaks directly to so-called “firms” – the word often used for football hooligan groups. He says the British government is “weak” and the borders are even weaker, and claims that ministers are doing nothing to deal with small boats. He then calls on supporters to mobilise:
“Our country is doing nothing. Weak government, weaker borders. They are doing nothing so we need to make a stand, boys. Get the lads together, get your firms together, get the lads in the pub, get the lads down the bars, if you’re talking about it and you agree with what we are doing, give us a hand.”
Other videos show two men stamping on a small boat’s outboard engine and kicking it until it breaks. They also show dinghies being slashed or flipped over. The men filming themselves say they are “patriots” who are protecting Britain, and they claim – without providing any proof – that they are stopping “rapists and murderers” from “coming to a town near you”.
Some of their clips have been branded “Operation Overlord”, a deliberate reference to the codename for the Allied D-Day landings during the Second World War. The men appear to be trying to present themselves as modern-day volunteers defending their country, using war-like language and English flag imagery to make their point.
The Raise the Colours project itself started as a grassroots flag-raising campaign, encouraging people to fix flags to lampposts, motorway bridges and roundabouts. The group has built a combined following of around 100,000 people on X and Instagram. In their posts about the French beach actions, they have also asked for donations, telling supporters that they are “STOPPING The Boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!” and asking for financial help to continue what they are doing.
Two of the group’s videos have been shared with the 1.7 million followers of Tommy Robinson, the far-right figure and former English Defence League leader whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He has been accused in the past of trying to mobilise football hooligan “firms” for anti-Muslim demonstrations and nationalist protests. His involvement gives the French beach videos even more attention and visibility online.
Meanwhile, the political background to all of this is growing tension over migration. Small boat crossings have reached record highs this year, and the number of asylum applications remains very high. At the same time, there have been angry protests outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers, and constant arguments in Parliament and the media about how to control the situation.
The Government is under heavy pressure to show it can get a grip on illegal migration and small boat crossings. On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a package of changes to asylum policy and described the current situation as “out of control and unfair”. She told MPs that the system does not work properly either for local communities or for genuine refugees who are stuck waiting for a decision. The Government says it wants to reduce crossings, speed up decisions, and crack down on people-smuggling gangs.
Against this backdrop, the vigilante-style actions in France are raising serious legal and safety concerns. French media report that the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into claims of “aggravated violence” against migrants involving suspected British far-right figures. One incident under investigation is said to have taken place in September, when four men carrying British and UK flags allegedly confronted migrants on the French coast. They are accused of shouting that the migrants were not welcome in England, physically attacking some of them and stealing some of their belongings before leaving.
These men are not the first anti-migrant activists to travel to northern France to “take matters into their own hands”. In September, Ukip – the party once led by Nigel Farage – posted a video on its X account which appeared to show migrants sleeping outdoors in France being woken up by bright strobe lights and loud shouting. Ukip’s current leader, Nick Tenconi, also posted a video from Calais with the caption: “In Calais hunting for illegal invaders trying to cross into Britain.”
Human rights organisations and refugee charities have warned that this kind of behaviour is dangerous and dehumanising. Migrants on the French coast are often people who have fled war, persecution or extreme poverty, and many have already faced violence or exploitation during their journey. Intimidating them, attacking them or destroying boats in a way that might later go unnoticed could increase the risk of injury or death if they still attempt to cross.
There is also a clear legal issue. When British citizens go to another country and damage property, harass people or use violence, they can be prosecuted under that country’s laws. If investigators in Dunkirk find enough evidence, those involved could face charges in France for violence, theft, criminal damage and other offences. On top of that, some legal experts point out that encouraging others online to travel abroad and carry out these acts could potentially raise further questions around incitement or conspiracy.
Beyond the legal risks, there is a practical question: damaging one or two dinghies will not solve the wider issue of migration across the Channel. People-smuggling gangs often have multiple boats, spare engines and different routes. If one vessel is destroyed, they can sometimes replace it quickly or switch to another departure point. In some cases, unseen damage to a boat or engine could even make a later journey more dangerous if it is not spotted before launching.
The videos also highlight the role of social media in fuelling and spreading this kind of activity. The men behind “Operation Stop The Boats” do not act in secret – they carefully film themselves, speak directly to the camera, and use strong language designed to go viral. They appeal to anger, frustration and a sense of “doing what the politicians will not do”. They then share these clips to large audiences, where far-right influencers amplify the content further. Each share brings them more views, more supporters and potentially more donations.
The Home Office and French authorities have been contacted for comment on the specific videos and claims, but there has not yet been a detailed public response. However, both governments continue to say that any action on illegal migration must be handled through official channels: police, border agencies, courts and international cooperation. They warn that individuals who decide to act alone – especially in another country – can easily make a dangerous situation worse, for migrants and for themselves.
For now, the story of these British vigilantes on French beaches underlines how heated the debate about migration has become. What started as a flag-raising campaign on British streets has now turned into a cross-border operation where ordinary citizens, encouraged by online networks and far-right figures, are taking direct action on foreign soil. The result is a volatile mix of politics, anger, nationalism and social media performance, all playing out on the beaches where desperate people still risk their lives trying to reach the UK.
