Video from Dunkirk shows shoes thrown from Channel crossing boat

English Vanguard has obtained footage from Dunkirk on the French coast showing a confrontation in the minutes before a small boat departure towards the United Kingdom.

The video was recorded at around 5:30am on 25 July 2026.

What the footage shows

In the clip, a man can be heard shouting: "Where are you from?"

When the answer comes back, "England," shoes are thrown from the boat towards the person filming.

English Vanguard is publishing the footage in full above so readers can watch and judge for themselves.

Record overcrowding on Channel crossings

The Dunkirk footage comes amid growing concern about overcrowded small boats on the English Channel.

On 22 July, a dinghy carrying 165 migrants crossed the Channel, setting a new record for arrivals on a single vessel. The previous record was 128 people on one boat on 11 July.

People-smuggling gangs are cramming more migrants onto each dinghy to maximise profits. The average number of people per small boat has risen from seven in 2018 to 63 in the year to March 2026, and 70 in the month before this report.

Enforcement and safety risks

Border Force chiefs believe multinational operations to intercept boats, engines and life jackets have led smugglers to pack each dinghy with more people. That increases the risk of capsizing and of passengers, particularly women and children, being crushed on board.

On 24 July, three dinghies crossed the Channel in one day, bringing 366 migrants in total. The other two vessels carried an average of 100 people each.

Arrivals so far in 2026 had reached 13,373 by that point — more than 40 per cent lower than the same period in 2025.

Government response

A Home Office spokesman said: "Smuggling gangs are taking greater risks than ever, with the number of people they are cramming into unseaworthy boats rising year on year."

The spokesman added: "This crossing serves as a stark reminder that criminal gangs have no regard for the safety of those they claim to help. The reality is clear, and lives are being lost in the Channel as a result."

A £650 million three-year deal signed with France by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood includes a 40 per cent increase in elite riot and public-order squads and new tactics such as interceptions at sea, building on more than 45,000 attempted crossings stopped since the election.

Editorial note

We have not independently verified the identities of those shown in the footage or the legal status of everyone on the boat.

English Vanguard does not publish material intended to unlawfully identify children or compromise ongoing operations. If you have relevant information, contact our newsroom at newsroom@englishvanguard.co.uk.