Newly surfaced videos circulating on social media and far-right channels have ignited fierce debate across the UK and France, showing British men allegedly crossing the Channel to northern France and deliberately damaging inflatable boats used by migrants attempting dangerous crossings to Britain. The footage, which first appeared in late 2025 and gained traction into early 2026, depicts groups of men digging up hidden outboard engines buried in sand dunes, smashing them with tools, and slashing dinghy hulls before they can be launched.

The individuals are linked to the British group “Raise the Colours,” a self-described patriotic movement that has livestreamed its activities from beaches near Calais, Gravelines, and other hotspots along the Pas-de-Calais coast. In one clip shared widely, men can be heard declaring they have “found this buried” and “f***** it up,” framing their actions as citizen-led efforts to “stop the boats” amid frustration with government inaction on small-boat crossings. Supporters hail the men—often described as ex-military veterans—as heroes taking “direct action” where authorities have failed, with some online commentators claiming they have disrupted more crossings than official patrols in certain periods.

Critics, however, condemn the behavior as vigilantism, criminal damage, and a serious threat to human life. Destroying vessels intended for sea crossings—however unseaworthy—could strand desperate people in dangerous situations or provoke violent confrontations. French migrant support organizations, including Utopia 56, have reported the group to police, accusing them of harassment, xenophobic intimidation, and endangering lives. In December 2025, a coalition of nine French associations publicly condemned both UK and French governments for insufficient action against these “migrant hunters,” warning that unchecked activities encourage “violent and xenophobic practices.”

French authorities have responded decisively. In January 2026, the Interior Ministry banned 10 members of Raise the Colours from entering or residing in France, citing their boat destruction, propaganda efforts, and risk of “serious disturbances to public order.” Additional detentions followed: two British men were arrested near Calais in early 2026 while allegedly planning to join banned far-right protests and livestreaming content deemed likely to incite hatred. French police have increased patrols in migrant areas, though critics argue enforcement remains inconsistent.

The UK government has distanced itself from the vigilantes, with officials emphasizing that illegal border actions undermine official cooperation with France. Diplomatic relations, already strained by ongoing Channel crossings (over 41,000 in 2025 alone), face further pressure. The incidents highlight deep public frustration with record asylum arrivals and smuggling networks, fueling calls for tougher border measures—but also raising alarms about extrajudicial vigilantism spilling across borders.

The footage has divided opinion sharply. On one side, supporters argue it exposes failures in French policing and smuggling impunity, with some praising the men’s “courage” in confronting a humanitarian and security crisis. On the other, human rights advocates and migration experts warn that such actions escalate tensions, endanger vulnerable people, and complicate bilateral efforts to dismantle smuggling gangs.

As investigations continue and more videos surface, the controversy underscores the volatile politics of migration in Europe. What began as fringe activism has now drawn official bans, arrests, and international scrutiny—raising urgent questions about where citizen frustration ends and criminality begins. Authorities on both sides of the Channel are watching closely, aware that unchecked escalation could spiral into broader diplomatic fallout or even violence on the beaches.