British activists banned from France over 'destruction' of small boats

Ten British "far-right activists" have been banned from France for "reconnaissance and destruction activities" against small boats used in migrant crossings.

The country's interior ministry said in a statement that the individuals were identified as part of the Raise the Colours movement. Raise the Colours told Sky News it has not received formal notification of the bans, and said it "has always maintained that its activities must remain peaceful and within the law".

The French ministry said the 10 "engaged, in particular, in reconnaissance and destruction activities targeting small boats, as well as in propaganda activities along the French coastline". It said those banned on Tuesday were "far-right activists" who took part in operations in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais areas in December.

The 10, which have not been named, are now prohibited from entering and staying in France. "These actions were aimed at a British audience, calling on them to bolster the ranks of the movement in order to put an end to migration," the ministry added.

Videos posted by Raise the Colours on X in December, seen by Sky News, show some members of the group saying they are in France to stop small boats used by migrants from illegally crossing the English Channel. One video, posted on 5 December, shows an inflatable small boat destroyed, with the caption: "Some people say 'Stop The Boats' we actually STOP THE BOATS." Sky News could not verify the location of that post.

Other posts by the account, under what it calls Operation Overload, suggest the videos online are filmed in France. The group came to prominence last summer as part of a collective movement to display the Union Flag and St George's flag - which do not often appear outside sporting, royal or military events - across the country.

According to its website, Raise the Colours is a "lawful, civic movement.