Migrants deal with France

Home Secretary Priti Patel and her French counterpart have signed an agreement on intelligence sharing in a bid to tackle migrant crossings.

Ms Patel and French interior minister Gerald Darmanin have agreed to create a Francobritish intelligence cell, both politicians announced.

Ms Patel hailed the agreement – the full details of which have not been made public – as a “new operational approach”.

It comes as numbers of migrants trying to cross the English Channel have surged during lockdown, with some taking on the hazardous journey in kayaks and even an inflatable paddling pool.

French authorities prevented at least 45 migrants from crossing the Strait of Dover yesterday, with more expected to have been picked up in UK waters.

Border Force and partner agencies were responding to “a number of incidents” off the UK coast at the weekend.