Belgian coastal police are urging urgent reinforcements as authorities struggle to contain a growing wave of UK-bound small boat crossings, which officials say are becoming increasingly dangerous and harder to intercept.
Police chiefs told a parliamentary committee that after several years of relative calm, Belgium’s coastline has seen a sharp rise in human trafficking activity, with smuggling networks shifting operations away from France due to tighter enforcement measures. As a result, departure points have increasingly moved toward Belgian coastal areas used for Channel crossings.
Local forces warn that the situation has become significantly more volatile. Officers report growing aggression during interventions, with some smuggling groups reportedly accompanied by individuals described by police as “violent ex-soldiers” from countries including Iraq and Afghanistan. Authorities say these individuals are being used to protect boats at launch sites and deter police from approaching.
Westkust police chief Nicholas Paelinck said intervention has in some cases become too risky, explaining:
Normally, we try to puncture the boat beforehand to prevent the crossing to the United Kingdom. But that is not possible here, because you see ex-military personnel from Iraq circling the boat to ensure the police cannot get to it.
Officers had faced direct threats during operations, forcing a reassessment of safety protocols, Paelinck added. In some locations, police now avoid direct engagement at launch sites.
Ostend police chief Hannelore Hochepied warned that pressure will likely increase in the coming months:
The small boats usually set off in the early morning, so it’s all hands on deck for the local police, with a major impact on daytime capacity.
She called for more resources, including surveillance technology and a central processing centre for arrivals, arguing that local services are being stretched beyond their limits.
