Britain agrees to foot ₤44m bill to increase French border security

Britain yesterday agreed to spend £44.5 million (Dh226m) to strengthen border controls in France after a meeting between prime minister Theresa May and French president Emmanuel Macron near London.

The French city of Calais emerged as a hotspot during the European migration crisis, with thousands gathering near the northern port before an attempt to reach Britain.

Under pressure from Britain, France razed the “Jungle” – a squalid encampment of about 10,000 people – near Calais in 2016.

Mr Macron visited the city on Tuesday, when he vowed there would be no return to such encampments, but hundreds of people remain camped out in scrubby woodland close to the port.

The money will be spent on fencing, and security cameras and other technology that will help to prevent migrants stowing away on lorries to try to reach Britain.

UK funding for security in the region is thought to have topped £100m over the past three years, while more than 750 children have been transferred to Britain since the Jungle was shut down.

Mr Macron is reportedly pushing for a commitment to take more refugees.

A British government spokeswoman said: “This is about investing in and enhancing the security of the UK border.

“Just as we invest in our borders around the rest of the UK, it is only right that we constantly monitor whether there is more we can be doing at the UK border controls in France and Belgium to ensure they are as secure as possible.”