Increased Challenges for French Law Enforcement as they Struggle to Enforce £480m Agreement with UK Regarding Small Boat Crossings in the English Channel
Unsatisfactory French Police Performance:
It seems those francophone boys in blue, patrolling Calais, are giving taxpayers in the UK a run for their money—all while offering little bang for their buck. The recent £480 million agreement aimed at thwarting small boat crossings across the Channel fails to impress, to say the least.
According to recent stats, French police are now stopping a lower proportion of illegal migrants than they were last year. In what appears to be a mockery of the deal, not even half the percentage of illegal crossings were hindered during the first five months of 2025[1].
Let's make one thing clear: we're not talking about winning the Tour de France here. We're talking about stopping migrants crossing an ocean in small boats. Yet, the numbers don't lie—the three-year cooperation agreement has yielded lackluster results.
Only twice since May 2024 has France managed to stop more migrants than the number arriving in the UK—last August and this January. March's performance was particularly dismal, with the UK Border Force having to rescue an alarming 2.36 migrants for every one that was caught or turned back by French police[1].
As for the seven days in late April, a shocking 1,312 migrants arrived, yet only 303 were stopped—a ratio of over four to one. It's not surprising then that three of the French police’s five least effective weeks have happened since the start of 2025[1].
Former Tory security minister, Sir John Hayes, had no qualms expressing his thoughts on the French “half-heartedness.” He bluntly stated, “They’ve got enough people and resources to puncture every dinghy before it sets off. They should be doing all they can to stop these boats launching, not just standing around."
The UK government admitted there was “more to do” in stopping small boat crossings. But Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman defended the agreement, claiming that a closer relationship with the French government is already bearing fruit[1].
France counts arrests, dinghy captures, and finds of smugglers' gear as "preventions.” Efforts are being made to change the law to allow interceptions at sea. However, these efforts are being blocked by militant police unions, who have instructed members to adhere to guidelines that require them to stand back once dinghies are in the water[1].
It doesn’t end there, folks—the staggering £41,000-per-year cost for the UK to house and feed each illegal immigrant in one of 210 hotels or other private accommodation means taxpayers are coughing up serious cash[1].
In fact, if France had stopped as many people as had arrived this year, 2,905 fewer migrants would have entered Britain between January and the end of May, saving taxpayers at least £119 million[1].
But don’t fret just yet! Last week, The Sun revealed that Britain’s annual bill to keep migrants in hotels and provide for them amounts to a whopping £4.7 billion—the equivalent of every penny of tax from 582,000 workers, or all the workers in Manchester[1].
Stay tuned for more on this developing story. In the meantime, why not check out our latest coverage on…
Dangerous Journey: Migrants risk their lives to board dinghies for Channel crossings—with French cops watching
Border Crisis: Labour slammed as "pathetic" for trying to blame weather for boat crossings
In light of the unsatisfactory French police performance instopping migrants crossing the Channel, there has been a questionable decrease in the proportion of illegal migrants being stopped, leading to a significant number of migrants risking their lives on dangerous journeys [general-news]. This letting daredevils pass unchecked, coupled with the expensive accommodation of these migrants in the UK, has caused an escalating general-news and crime-and-justice concern [politics]. The UK government is under pressure to address the issue, as the French police seem detached from their commitment to thwart small boat crossings [politics].
