France is backing away from a recent commitment to intervene more forcefully at sea to stop small boats from crossing the English Channel, according to multiple sources contacted by the BBC.
There is evidence that France's current political turmoil is partly to blame, but it will come as a blow to the UK government's attempts to tackle the issue.
In the meantime, dangerously overcrowded inflatable boats continue to leave the coast on an almost daily basis, from a shallow tidal canal near the port of Dunkirk.
While the man in charge of border security in the UK, Martin Hewitt, has already expressed frustration at French delays, the BBC has now heard from a number of sources in France that promises of a new maritime doctrine - which would see patrol boats attempt to intercept inflatable boats and pull them back to shore – are hollow.
It's just a political stunt. It's much blah-blah, said one figure closely linked to French maritime security.
The maritime prefecture for the Channel told the BBC that the new doctrine on taxi-boats was still being studied.
Former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau was widely credited, not least in the UK, with driving a more aggressive approach in the Channel. That culminated last July with a summit between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The focus then was on plans to intercept the so-called taxi boats now used by smugglers to cruise close to the coastline.
French police rarely intervene against the overcrowded taxi-boats since it's considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
In London, the prime minister's spokesman reacted immediately to our footage of French police’s earlier intervention, calling it a really significant moment and proof that the French were already starting to take tougher action to stop the small boats on shore.
But since then, Retailleau has lost his job, and a distracted French government appears to be focused on other crises.
A retired chip shop owner near the canal at Gravelines reported seeing four boats leave in a single day, showcasing the ongoing issue.
Experts warn that potential interventions at sea could increase risks of fatalities, leading to legal challenges against maritime authorities, further complicating any efforts.
Despite France's struggle, the UK government continues to emphasize its partnership with France in tackling illegal migration, amidst an unsettling climate of uncertainty regarding future enforcement actions.
