French Police Intercept 61% of Channel Small Boats After £501 Million UK-France Deal
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 20
French Police Intercept 61% of Channel Small Boats After £501 Million UK-France Deal
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 20
Summary
French authorities have intercepted 185 attempted Channel crossings involving 4,300 migrants over four summer weeks, and stopped 12 boats at sea using undisclosed new tactics.
The Home Office said 61% of small boats have been intercepted since the UK-France border deal was struck three months ago — up 5 percentage points from a year earlier.
Footage showed officers racing across beaches in jeeps and slashing abandoned dinghies, part of a broader push that also targets engines, life jackets and boats hidden near the coast.
Crossings are still continuing: 425 migrants arrived on five boats in the last week, 250 landed on Monday, and a 230-person “mega-dinghy” was intercepted earlier this month.
The Conservatives called the government’s claims a “joke” and argued preventions were down by half year on year, even as overall Channel crossings are running about 40% below last year.