UK and France agree new £660m deal to curb Channel migrant crossings

The United Kingdom and France have agreed on a new three-year deal aimed at reducing irregular migrant crossings of the English Channel.

The agreement includes a significant increase in French coastal policing and substantial UK funding to support enforcement efforts.

France will boost coastal policing by over 50%, increasing the number of officers to 1,400 by 2029.

The UK will provide up to £660 million (approximately 766 million euros) in funding, with nearly a quarter of this amount conditional on the effectiveness of the French measures.

The deal includes funding for a 50-strong riot squad trained in crowd-control tactics, equipped with batons, shields, and teargas to contain and disperse groups attempting to board small boats bound for the UK.

This is part of a broader increase in enforcement, intelligence, and military personnel in northern France by about 40%, reaching nearly 1,100 officers.

Additional measures involve deploying new technology such as drones, helicopters, and camera systems to enhance surveillance and interception efforts along the French coast.

The UK government has stated that around £100 million of funding could be redirected or withdrawn after a year if French authorities do not meet agreed targets based on joint annual assessments.

The agreement follows months of negotiations and replaces the previous three-year Sandhurst treaty, which expired at the end of March 2026.

The UK had insisted on conditions for renewing the treaty, seeking assurances on how British taxpayers' money would be used to prevent migrant crossings.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to formalize the deal and has highlighted the partnership's role in preventing tens of thousands of illegal crossings.

Crossings have increased in recent years, with over 41,000 people arriving in the UK by small boat in 2025.

The UK government has described the deal as a landmark step to stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and to put people smugglers behind bars.

However, the inclusion of riot control equipment and training has drawn criticism from asylum advocacy groups, who warn that such measures could lead to the further brutalisation of migrants seeking refuge.

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