More than 50,000 small boat crossing attempts have been prevented since the general election, according to French operational data, as France prepares to deploy additional anti-riot police to its beaches.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK-French measures are having an impact, with 50 specialist Compagnie Republicaine de Sécurité (CRS) officers — France's main anti-riot unit — set to be deployed on days when crossings are most likely.
Home Secretary welcomes falling arrivals
Shabana Mahmood said: “Over 50,000 crossing attempts have been prevented since the election and arrivals are down significantly. Our collective efforts, on both sides of the Channel, are having an impact.”
“Every prevention made by officers is a blow to the smugglers behind this trade. But we are not complacent. We will be relentless in pursuing the criminal gangs and bearing down on the small boats.”
The Home Office said the newly-deployed officers will tackle large groups gathering on French beaches, doubling the size of a specialist unit until March next year.
Recent successes and new taskforce
Border Security Commander Duncan Capps said: “Joint work with the French is crucial to protecting our borders. Our close partnership is delivering results by stopping thousands of small boat launches in dangerous and difficult conditions.”
“This summer recorded the lowest number of arrivals since 2020, but we are not complacent. We’re committed to going even further to stop the criminal gangs before they have a chance to act.”
The Home Office highlighted recent successes, including the interception of a taxi boat launched from Belgium on September 28, and the use of drone technology to track a van carrying dinghy equipment on September 22, the same day a group of 100 migrants were intercepted heading for a boat. On September 27, a suspected small boat pilot was arrested after getting on a taxi boat.
Ms Mahmood has launched a new Small Boat Returns Taskforce to accelerate efforts to remove people with no right to stay in the UK.
