Britain and France reach deal on migrants
BRITAIN is to agree a Channel migrant deal with France as early as Monday, with the French putting more police on beaches, pledging to stop more small boats leaving and establishing a joint control centre.
The agreement – which involves the UK paying France at least £60 million – will see a significant increase in the 200 gendarmes and volunteer officers deployed on Channel beaches. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, has previously suggested she wanted it doubled.
France has also agreed that it will aim for a “much higher” proportion of migrants to be prevented from leaving. This year 29,000 migrants have been stopped – about 42 per cent of the total – compared with a record near 40,000 who have reached the UK.
The French have maintained that if they could stop between 70 per cent and 80 per cent, it would likely make the route uneconomic for people smugglers.
France has resisted British appeals to allow Border Force officers to join French patrols on the beach because of concerns over sovereignty but have now agreed to a “joint control centre” where British immigration officials will be stationed.
“They will be able to work more closely together with their French counterparts and will be able to ensure that they share their very good quality intelligence,” said a source.
Border Force’s vessels, drones and satellite surveillance can provide vital information on migrants’ movements across the Channel while British officers will receive live intelligence on people smuggling and migrant movements in northern France for the first time.
The deal was signalled yesterday after talks between James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, and Catherine Colonna, the French foreign minister.
In a communique, they welcomed progress towards “a significant new Uk-france agreement [on illegal migration] and in this respect the conclusion of an ambitious package as soon as possible”.
It came as hundreds of Albanians were set to stage a protest today in front of Parliament over their “humiliation” at being branded invading criminals by Mrs Braverman.