At the mouth of the river Canche in northern France, a chain of buoys creates a floating barrier near the estuary where the river flows into the English Channel. This is the latest measure the authorities have deployed in an effort to stop migrants from leaving French shores for the UK. Set up on August 10, the barrier is meant to stop the so-called "taxi boats" used by people smugglers.

The vessels start their journeys empty, away from the beaches, before picking up migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia on the coast, a report by Agence France Presse (AFP) explains.

The coast is already heavily patrolled and surveillance equipment has been installed in 12 communes and four ports, with more due to be installed in 2024, AFP quotes local authorities as saying.

Every day, an average of 800 security personnel, on foot or in buggies, survey the beaches and dunes along the 130 kilometers of coastline between Dunkirk and the Somme bay. They are helped by the EU border agency Frontex, which patrols the region with planes and drones equipped with infrared and thermal cameras.

Also read: France to UK: Why do migrants risk the Channel crossing?

Closing routes

Migrants trying to leave France for the UK have increasingly opted for dangerous boat journeys since tightened security at the port of Calais and the Channel tunnel linking France with southeast England made those routes almost impossible.

The area around Calais now looks like a fortress: the port and tunnel terminal are surrounded by fencing and cameras, and an "anti-intrusion" wall has been erected beside a road to stop people climbing onto lorries.

Parking spots in the Transmarck logistical zone are also fenced off: "We manage to get in" sometimes, "but it's difficult", said Awham, a 23-year-old Sudanese man pushed out of the area by police.

Also read: 'I thought I was dying' – Idris, survivor of Channel migrant disaster

French authorities are also trying to stop migrants from setting up temporary camps along the coast. In central Calais, spaces under bridges have been fenced-off, and boulders have been placed on the quay to prevent people from settling.

"Can't sleep here anymore," Amine, a 22-year-old Moroccan who has spent a month looking for a way to cross the Channel, told AFP.

Another young woman from Somalia said she was staying with a French woman and went to the esplanade to "look for news on crossings".

Also read: Inside France's battle against migrant smugglers: A closer look

Record arrivals

The UK government, in addition to introducing tougher legislation to stop Channel crossings, has funded the security clampdown in France to the tune of around €465 million since a 2014 deal gave France responsibility for managing this border area.

Britain is due to add more than €640 million to the total by 2027, AFP reports.

Despite the measures 20,074 migrants have managed to cross the Channel on small boats so far this year. On Saturday, a new record was set with 872 people arriving in a single day. Overall, however, the number of small boat arrivals is down nearly 20% compared with the same period last year.

With AFP

Also read: UK: 'Illegal Migration Bill' to become law