Ex-Border Force boss demands British boots on the ground in France to tackle small boats crisis

But now, the Home Secretary is looking to tighten up current deals with the French, with a Home Office delegation in Paris pursuing a new deal with the Government.

Such an agreement is believed to have included performance-based clauses, linking funding to the proportion of boats intercepted by French authorities.

Ms Mahmood is also understood to be demanding a deal where payments are only made once the French meet specific interception targets, The Times reported.

On the issue, Downing Street has also stressed the need for "long-term value for money" in any future deal.

Under the current agreement, the UK coughs up almost two-thirds of the £160million annual cost of migrant patrols in northern France.

Discussing upcoming revised deals with the French, Mr Smith told GB News: "The 'one-in, out-out' scheme... I know it's not really enough, but that's a new landmark deal, where we are able to send at least some people back to France.

"They're right to continue talking to the French, but I suspect what they're looking for - what I would be looking for, if I were them - would be some kind of a performance framework or measurement framework upon which the money is contingent.

"As far as I know, we're simply calculating the number of police officers that will be required to patrol the beaches and planning for that."

But the ex-border chief said he advocated a "payment-by-reduction" of the small boats by French authorities, seeking total communication and transparency over interventions.

In the past, Mr Smith, with his previous insight into the inner workings of border control, argued the relationship with the French was a "very good relationship at operational level, at least".

He continued: "They don't like smugglers and they want to stop illegals. The problem is that, operationally, you can only do what is what is laid down in the operational order, an agreement in terms of what's permitted.

"Now, I would very much like to see Border Force boots on the ground over there. I would like to see more joint activities, both on the maritime and on the land.

"But there are there are boundaries and red lines that the French have drawn, which is 'we're not prepared to go that far'."

Mr Smith went on to claim is that there is no way to tell whether the French are upholding their side of the deal or not, as it stands.

"We've seen a couple of what seem to be publicity stunts that the French are doing something, but I don't think they really are, to be honest," he added.

When asked if the French officers might lack motivation to stop the boats and keeping the migrants in France - he admitted most authorities would want to do a "good job".

He told GB News: "They'll want to do the job they're tasked to do, and they will want to work with us to stop human smuggling and to stop people drowning.

"I think for that, that would be the view of the officers on the ground. But that varies," he added.

The last time "boots on the ground" was considered was back when Rishi Sunak was in Government and said such a deployment would be the most effective short-term way to combat the migrant crisis.

Now, the French's attempt to stop the small boats has appeared to take a nosedive.

Latest figures revealed some 68 migrants were prevented from crossing in the week of March 9, compared to 357 individuals who successfully made the trip - just 19 per cent.

This figure marks the worst-performing week for the French authorities this year. The first quarter of 2026 also represents a decline from last year's figures.

French interceptions peaked at just over 50 per cent in the weeks following Rishi Sunak's initial £478million deal in 2023. Last year, this figure had dropped to 35 per cent.

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