The UK will pay France £16.2 million to continue beach patrols for two months, as both sides race to agree a new deal to curb small boat crossings across the Channel amid rising migrant numbers and political pressure.

The temporary funding agreement comes as a three-year deal between the UK and France was set to expire, with negotiations over a new arrangement still unresolved.

Under the extension, French authorities will continue patrols along the northern coastline, where migrants attempt to cross the Channel in small boats. The UK has already paid nearly £480 million since 2023 to support these operations, including surveillance and enforcement efforts.

Talks over a longer-term deal have stalled, with the UK pushing for tougher conditions, including linking payments to the number of crossings prevented. French officials have resisted these demands, warning that stricter enforcement could put lives at risk.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said cooperation with France had already prevented tens of thousands of crossings and insisted a stronger agreement was needed while negotiations continue.

However, critics argue the policy is not delivering results. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the government was “paying for continued failure”, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage questioned whether any new deal would reduce crossings.

Despite joint efforts, the number of people reaching the UK by small boat has continued to rise, with more than 41,000 arrivals recorded last year.

French authorities currently deploy hundreds of officers along the coast, supported by drones and patrol vehicles, but interception rates have fluctuated and remain a key point of dispute between the two countries.

Copied