Riot-trained police will be sent to patrol beaches in France as part of a new £662m deal between France and the UK to stop illegal migrants from crossing the English Channel.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is due to sign the three-year agreement with France on today, which will see at least 50 police officers, trained in “riot and crowd control tactics”, drafted in to tackle violence and “hostile crowds”.
Critics have said that 50 police officers will not be enough to cover miles of beaches in Northern France.
The deal will involve France deploying millions of pounds worth of drones, two helicopters, and a camera system to intercept people smugglers and illegal migrants.
For the first time, ministers have said around £100m of UK funding could be redirected or withdrawn after a year if not enough journeys are stopped.
The UK government has not confirmed what targets the French would have to meet in order to keep the money.
Speaking ahead of the new deal being signed, Mahmood said “Our work with the French has stopped tens of thousands of illegal migrants boarding boats headed to Britain. But we must do more. This landmark deal will stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars.”
The Conservatives accused the government of handing over “half a billion pounds of our money with no conditions at all”.
Reform UK accused the government of giving France more money “for a system that has already failed”.
The news comes after more than 600 people crossed the Channel on small boats on Saturday 18th April, making it the second busiest day for crossings so far this year.
Home Office figures show 602 migrants arrived in Dover on nine boats, bringing the total number of arrivals so far in 2026 to more than 6,000.
The largest single day total this year was previously on 25th February, when 605 migrant arrivals were recorded.
In a statement, the Home Office said it was “bearing down” on small boat crossings.
A Home Office spokesperson said “We have stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the Channel since the election. We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally. But we are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country and increase removals and deportations of those with no right to be here.”
