Citizens are asked to report any suspicious situation that may indicate human smuggling via small boats via the emergency number 112
The current weather conditions increase the risk that human smugglers will send groups of transmigrants, including small children, out to sea in overcrowded rubber boats, often with inadequate life jackets. To avoid this, the West Coast police zone and the Federal Police require special attention for people who cross the Channel from the Belgian coast to the United Kingdom in small boats.
In a press release from 28 August 2024, the West Coast police zone and the Federal Police stress that small boats depart from the Belgian coast, more specifically in the border region with France, to reach the United Kingdom.
In order to prevent the departure of these small boats which lead to life-threatening situations, police services are asked to pay extra attention to the phenomenon these days. The West Coast police zone is deploying its drone team to detect movement on the beach at night with an infrared camera. The Maritime Police is more present at night in the border region with France and checks specific places that can be used to launch small boats. The Road Police is paying extra attention to the transport of nautical equipment or victims of human smuggling to the coastal region.
Citizens are also requested to report any suspicious situation that may indicate human smuggling via small boats via the emergency number 112. This allows emergency services to intervene more quickly in the event of a life-threatening situation and/or allows the police to check a possible suspect of human smuggling and conduct further investigations.
For further details, please read the press release from the local Police in Dutch.