Migrant camps ‘growing more violent’ with guns seized as Border Force slam French cops for failing to stop small boats

GUNS are being seized from French migrant camps as the criminal gangs behind them become increasingly violent, the Border Force said. Officials are also said to be increasingly frustrated with hapless officers on the other side of the Channel who are failing to stop small boat crossings. Guns are now being seized from migrant camps, the Border Force said Credit: Gary Stone Gormless French officers watched on as 752 migrants left their shores for the UK on Wednesday Credit: AFP Gormless French officers watched on as 752 migrants left their shores for the UK on Wednesday, the busiest day for crossings so far this year. It was later confirmed that four people had died off the French coast while undertaking the perilous journey. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The Gendarmes have long been criticised for failing to stop overloaded dinghies leaving, despite getting more than £1billion from UK taxpayers. And in a concerning development, Border Force officials have now warned a “regular drumbeat of firearms” are being discovered in migrant camps. The Gendarmes have long been criticised for failing to stop overloaded dinghies leaving Credit: AFP More than 13,007 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year Credit: Getty A source told The Times: “They’re used to facilitate the smugglers’ activities — controlling patches, making sure they keep the spaces where they launch the dinghies and for enforcing protection “The gangs controlling the crossings are involved in proper criminality.” The Sun witnessed chaos unfold as asylum seekers repeatedly stormed beaches and fought each other for spaces on the small boats this week. But as chaos unfolded, bungling French cops watched on and said: “Our order is to let them go.” Most read in The Sun He added: “We just have to say to them ‘don’t do that, it’s dangerous’.” Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was also on the beach in Hardelot and posted videos of the chaos. He said: “The most shocking thing was the complete inaction by the Gendarmes. “They just stood there and watched the migrants launching. It was extraordinary.” More than 13,007 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year. But the heatwave has triggered a stampede and poses a fresh challenge to Mr Burnham, who name-checked immigration as a top public priority. It comes days after PM Andy Burnham said the Government’s plan to curb Channel crossings was “working”, but admitted there was “more to do”. On numerous occasions last year, The Sun watched on as officers on the coast of France unsuccessfully prevented small boats from setting sail. In June, they were spotted for the first time in waist-high water using riot shields and pepper spray to disperse the migrant groups. The officers finally went into the sea, but the small boats were still left dangerously overcrowded after the officers retreated. A month later, we saw officers arrive an hour after a group of migrants waved au revoir from a packed dinghy headed for the UK. Around 50 young East African men wearing life jackets were crammed on to the inflatable, which set off near Dunkirk. The migrant “taxi boat” was even able to bob along in near-perfect sea conditions while waiting to pick up any stragglers. Comment now