French police seemed to have all the gear but no idea as dozens of migrants scrambled on to dinghies bound for Britain.

Despite their specialist uniforms with riot helmets, waterproof body-worn cameras, non-lethal handguns and pistol-grip pepper spray, the gendarmerie stood and watched as the overloaded boats sailed over the horizon.

An onlooker said: 'The officers came well equipped for the job, but then didn't do anything as all these blokes piled on to dodgy-looking inflatables.'

The laughable scene unfolded on Monday on the beaches of Dunkirk after France's human rights watchdog ordered police to stop using aggressive tactics to intercept migrants.

Claire Hédon, the highly influential Defender of Rights, said in January that heavy-handed tactics such as slashing boats with knives or restraining migrants with tear gas or rubber bullets were 'disproportionate' and risked harming the thousands of young men flooding into Britain.

On Monday, around 200 migrants were seen wading out into the sea before being collected by small boats sent from further down the coast - a tactic known as 'taxi boat'.

French police have agreed to tackle 'taxi-boats' after a personal plea from Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January, but will only attempt an interception before they take on migrants.

Police unions have warned it could put the lives of people-smugglers, migrants and French officers at risk and leave officers liable to prosecution if anyone drowned or was injured. 

Last year, 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, the second-highest annual number on record. More than 5,000 have made the journey so far this year.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'It seems the French have long given up on serious effort to stop migrants jumping into small boats to cross the Channel illegally.

'We have given the French around three-quarters of a billion pounds since 2014/15 to stop illegal migrants. We deserve a refund.'

Two weeks ago, the UK agreed a new two-month deal to pay France £16.2million more to police the Channel while the two countries thrash out a long-term agreement.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed off deal, which extends a previous one, to subsidise French beach patrols.

In recent weeks, more migrants without identification have claimed to be fleeing the war in Iran in order to secure refugee status, according to officials.

Others have falsely claimed to be Bidoons - stateless Arabs from Kuwait, mainly descended from nomadic tribes, who were not granted citizenship after the country's independence in 1961.

Two migrants died after attempting to cross the Channel in an overcrowded boat on April 1.

Last night, the Home Office claimed that no migrants had arrived on small boats over the weekend.