Raise the Colours has framed its latest actions as part of what it calls “Operation Overlord”, a campaign that has seen activists patrol beaches, dunes and coastal areas in northern France.
The group alleges it has located and disabled inflatable boats hidden near the shoreline. In videos posted online, individuals appear to confront people near the coast, with some footage showing masked figures wading into shallow waters and shouting abuse at boats offshore.
In one clip, a man can be heard yelling: “We don’t want them in our country.” Another video, posted on December 7, appears to show a masked individual brandishing a knife towards the occupants of a car. The footage was captioned by the group as showing an “illegal migrant armed with a knife”, though this claim has not been independently verified.
Neither the identity of those involved nor the circumstances surrounding the footage have been confirmed, and no official findings have yet been released by French authorities.
⚠️ Aid groups warn of threat to public order
Migrant support organisations operating in northern France have issued stark warnings, accusing the British and French governments of failing to act decisively against the vigilantes.
A spokesperson for L’Auberge des Migrants, quoted by Euronews, said the group’s activities posed a serious danger.
“These are people who come to France with the express intention of committing crimes such as harassment,” the spokesperson said. “They are a threat to public order.”
They added that the response from authorities had so far been inadequate given the risks involved, particularly to vulnerable people already fleeing war, persecution or poverty.
Nine migrant support organisations have jointly called for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation, warning that vigilante activity could lead to serious injury or worse.
🚩 Flags, symbolism and claims of ‘patriotism’
Raise the Colours first gained attention over the summer after organising displays of Union Jack and St George flags on lampposts across parts of the UK. The group described the campaign as an act of patriotism.
Critics, however, accused it of deliberately stoking racial tension and promoting extremist narratives under the guise of national pride. The group’s rhetoric has increasingly focused on describing Channel crossings as an “invasion”, language repeatedly criticised by charities and watchdogs as dehumanising.
The escalation from symbolic protest to direct action on foreign soil has alarmed observers, with some warning it risks diplomatic fallout as well as legal consequences for those involved.
🌊 Channel crossings remain politically charged
According to Home Office figures, more than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year. The journeys are widely acknowledged to be dangerous, with multiple deaths recorded annually.
A joint UK-France pilot scheme introduced in August, aimed at deterring crossings, has resulted in just over one hundred people being returned to the continent. A similar number have arrived in the UK through approved safe routes under the same arrangement.
Both governments have insisted they are working to disrupt smuggling networks and prevent dangerous journeys, while stressing that enforcement must remain the responsibility of law enforcement – not vigilante groups.
Raise the Colours has been approached for comment regarding its activities in France but has not responded.
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