What you all have to realise is that both countries, France and GB have a duty of care towards anyone and everyone at sea.
If you have a little rubber dingy with 56 people crammed on it with a freeboard of just inches, then they cannot be just hooked off but must be shadowed just in case the damn thing sinks. If it does sink then they must be rescued and brought ashore. Only and unless the occupants ask to be recovered no one can forcibly take the boat into tow.
The French navy provide this protection for these reasons.