FRENCH police have been filmed idly standing by while some 20 migrants launched a boat in the Channel towards Britain.

       The CRS riot officers — drafted in as part of the ￡54million taxpayer-funded package given to France by Home Secretary Priti Patel — even filmed the group.

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       Police film migrants launching a boat into the Channel towards Britain 3

       The French cops chatted to one another as the migrants carried their rigid inflatable boat into the sea at Wimereux near Boulogne-sur-Mer

       But instead of stepping in to prevent them leaving, they chatted as the migrants carried their rigid inflatable boat into the sea at Wimereux near Boulogne-sur-Mer.

       The footage was shot on Tuesday when it is thought 1,000 migrants made it to the UK.

       A French police source said: “We can intervene only when life is in danger.

       “With such large groups you also have to think of personal safety.

       "Officers have been attacked with pepper spray in the past.

       “When a boat is already on the verge of being launched, then there is nothing we can do.”

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       So far this year more than 23,000 migrants have crossed from France to Britain.

       A migrant camp that had been broken up by police near Dunkirk was filling up again yesterday.

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       The officers were dafted in as part of the ￡54million taxpayer-funded package given to France by Home Secretary Priti Patel Credit: PA

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