French police have disrupted nearly two-thirds of small migrant boat launches last month, new figures reveal. The statistics show that French authorities, who have received more than £1 billion from UK taxpayers, stopped 53 of 82 attempted crossings from northern France in May.
Improved Interdiction Rates
Officials report that 1,273 attempted crossings—around 40%—were prevented in May alone. The figures, first reported by The Sun, suggest French authorities are finally gaining control over the crisis.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris said: “Our work with France is cracking down on small boat launches and stopping the criminal smuggling gangs in their tracks. This builds on the 44,000 small boat crossing attempts prevented since the election. But we must and will go further. With new specialist French police units in place this summer, we are using every tool at our disposal to restore order and control to the UK’s border.”
New Tactics at Sea
French officials are now intercepting so-called 'taxi boats' at sea before they pick up migrants from beaches. The first interception occurred in January after a change in tactics agreed in November amid increasing pressure from Britain.
Funding and Agreements
The new figures come weeks after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed off on a new £662 million deal with France to stop Channel crossings. This three-year agreement includes riot-trained police deployed to northern France beaches to tackle violence and hostile crowds. It adds to a £480 million deal agreed under the Conservatives in 2023, bringing total UK taxpayer commitment to over £1.1 billion.
