The UK government has committed to paying France an additional £660 million over three years to reduce the number of asylum seekers attempting the dangerous journey across the English Channel. This new agreement includes funding for a specialised riot squad trained to "disperse" individuals trying to board small boats from northern French beaches.
Details of the Three-Year Agreement
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to sign the deal, which will deploy 1,100 enforcement, intelligence, and military officers—a 40% increase—to target smuggling networks and migrants. A key component is a 50-strong riot squad equipped with batons, shields, and teargas, trained in crowd-control tactics to "stop illegal migrants in their tracks," according to the Home Office.
Funding Breakdown and Enforcement Measures
The £660 million package allocates approximately £500 million for baseline enforcement enhancements on French beaches. This includes five new police units, 20 additional maritime officers to intercept boats in shallow waters, and an expansion of the intelligence unit from 18 to 30 specialists. Two new helicopters and an advanced camera system will also be deployed to track and intercept smugglers and migrants.
An extra £160 million is reserved for trialing new approaches, though specifics remain undisclosed. The UK will spend £50 million in the first year, with the remaining £110 million contingent on results, marking the first "payment-by-results" scheme for Channel migration control.
Criticism from Refugee Advocacy Groups
Organisations representing asylum seekers have condemned the plan, warning it could lead to further brutality against vulnerable individuals. Sile Reynolds of Freedom from Torture described it as a "deeply alarming" escalation, noting that many migrants have already faced state violence and may now encounter excessive force from French riot police.
Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council argued that policing alone addresses symptoms, not root causes. He emphasised that without safe legal routes, desperate people will continue risking their lives due to family ties, language skills, or cultural connections to the UK.
Political Context and Previous Efforts
This deal follows the collapse of a previous £478 million agreement in March and comes amid political pressure on Labour, which faces challenges from Reform UK in local elections. Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted that existing cooperation with France has prevented tens of thousands of crossings and led to nearly 60,000 deportations.
French police have previously used teargas, stun grenades, and pepper spray to deter boat boardings, but this marks the first UK-funded riot squad specifically for migration control. Recent incidents include a Sudanese man charged in connection with four migrant deaths in the Channel.
Current Migration Statistics
More than 6,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats this year, a 36% decrease compared to the same period last year. However, the dangerous crossings continue, with migrants often boarding vessels in locations like Gravelines, northern France, under perilous conditions.
