A leaked government document has exposed the ineffectiveness of the UK's controversial boat-slashing policy, revealing that migrant crossings across the English Channel have continued unabated despite the aggressive tactic.
The confidential report, obtained by The Guardian, shows that Home Office officials were aware that destroying migrant vessels had little impact on deterring arrivals. Instead, the policy has been criticised as inhumane and counterproductive by human rights groups.
Policy Backfires as Crossings Persist
Internal data indicates that the number of migrants reaching UK shores remained consistently high after the policy's implementation. Critics argue that the approach merely forces asylum seekers to take even riskier routes, increasing the danger of fatalities at sea.
Home Office Under Fire
The revelation has sparked fresh criticism of the government's immigration strategy, with opposition MPs describing the boat-slashing measures as "cruel theatre" rather than effective policymaking. A Home Office spokesperson defended the tactic as part of a "multi-layered approach" to border security.
Meanwhile, refugee charities have called for more humane solutions, pointing to the rising death toll in the Channel. "This policy was never about solving the problem," said one aid worker. "It was about creating the illusion of action while people continue to die."
