British taxpayers are set to fund the French government with up to £660 million over the next three years to bolster anti-migrant operations in the Channel, pushing the total UK financial commitment since the small boat crisis began in 2018 past £1.3 billion. This new agreement, described as ‘historic’ by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, aims to enhance border control and combat human smuggling.

The deal, which Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is scheduled to sign in Paris, comprises a 'core package' of £500 million. An additional £160 million will be allocated for new tactics, with an initial £53 million disbursed in the first year. Crucially, subsequent payments from this additional sum are contingent upon the French authorities demonstrating tangible results in curbing crossings, marking it as the first 'payment-by-results' scheme in Channel operations.

This new pact follows the collapse of a previous three-year, £478 million deal agreed in 2023 by then-Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, during which more than 84,000 migrants successfully reached Britain across the Channel. The intensified measures are expected to be fully implemented over the summer, traditionally the peak period for crossings.

Under the new agreement, British funds will finance a significant expansion of French capabilities. This includes a 40 percent increase in the number of French police, intelligence operatives, and military reservists involved in counter-migrant patrols, raising the total from approximately 750 to 1,100 personnel. The specialist intelligence unit dedicated to targeting traffickers will also be expanded from 18 to 30 staff, complemented by extra surveillance drones and a new system of security cameras.

New operational tactics will also be introduced, such as intercepting dinghies already in the water. However, this particular strategy will only apply to vessels carrying fewer than 20 migrants, a limit imposed by French authorities due to concerns over potential loss of life if more crowded boats are intercepted at sea. The UK cash will further fund a new specialist vessel for French interception efforts, 20 additional trained maritime officers, and two new helicopters for surveillance along the French coastline.

A particularly controversial element of the deal involves the funding of a new 50-strong police riot squad, specifically trained in 'crowd-control tactics' and dispersing large groups of people. This squad is expected to utilize batons, shields, and teargas to 'stop illegal migrants in their tracks.' This marks the first instance of the UK specifically funding a riot squad for irregular migration purposes, a move that has drawn strong criticism from humanitarian organizations.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that the agreement would help put people smugglers behind bars and prevent perilous journeys. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated, 'Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings, and this government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here. This historic agreement means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain's borders.'

However, the deal has faced significant opposition. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the unconditional nature of the core £500 million payment, noting that France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and released intercepted individuals, allowing them to attempt crossings again. Organisations like Freedom from Torture and the Refugee Council have voiced deep alarm. Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture, called the funding for riot control a 'deeply alarming' escalation that risks the brutalization of vulnerable individuals who have often already endured state violence. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, argued that focusing on policing the Channel treats the symptom, not the cause, stressing that people will continue to risk dangerous crossings without safe and legal routes to the UK.

Since the 2024 election, joint UK-French efforts have reportedly stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting Channel crossings. While more than 6,000 people have arrived in the UK this year via this route, this represents a 36 percent decrease compared to the equivalent period last year. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and ethical implications of the new, heavily funded tactics remain subjects of intense debate.