Britain strikes new £160 MILLION migrant deal with France but holds power to stop funding if new tactics fail

Under the new deal, £500million will be invested to boost enforcement action on beaches in Northern France and a conditional £160million more will be invested based on the success of new tactics.

It marks the first time the funding uplift will be conditional on results and reducing migrants.

If the new tactics are not successful, funding will stop after one year.

Almost 1,100 law enforcement, intelligence and military officers will be deployed to crack down on the surging number of migrants making the perilous trip across the Channel.

Part of the funding will be allocated to bulking up the personnel along the French coast, which has so far stopped 42,000 crossings since the election.

The cash will also go towards the establishment of a new riot police unit, designed to handle hostile crowds and violent outbreaks.

An intelligence and judicial unit, which works on arresting the people smugglers, will triple in size, from 18 to 30 specialists.

Last year, the 18-strong team arrested 480 individuals.

In response to the deal, the Conservatives rejected the Governement's claims, saying "France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and even let those illegal immigrants go to try again".

Drones, two helicopters and a new camera surveillance system will also be installed to intercept both people smugglers as well as those crossing.

New maritime tactics will be rolled out aimed at clamping down on taxi boats, as well.

The French will use a new vessel, in addition to 20 maritime officers to target those making the crossing.

Sir Keir Starmer declared: "We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice.

"Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings, and this Government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here."

The deportation and removal figure of "nearly" 60,000 has appeared to not have budged since the start of February.

More than two months ago, the Home Office boasted the same claim that it had returned almost 60,000 unauthorised migrants and convicted criminals since July 2024.

The PM added: "This historic agreement means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain’s borders."

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed: “Our work with the French has stopped tens of thousands of illegal migrants boarding boats headed to Britain.

"But we must do more. This landmark deal will stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars."

The Conservatives however slammed the new agreement, with Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, saying: “The government’s deal hands over half a billion pounds of our money with no conditions at all.

"France only prevented a third of embarkations last year and even let those illegal immigrants go to try again.

"France shouldn’t get a single penny unless they stop the vast majority of the boats.

"This weak government has no control of our borders. Since the election over 70,000 illegal immigrants have crossed – a 45 per cent increase compared to before the election.

"Their claim to smash the gangs is laughable.

"The only way to fix this is the Conservative Party’s BORDERS plan – leave the ECHR so we can deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival, and then the crossings would soon stop.

"But Shabana Mahmood and Keir Starmer are too weak to do this."

Official data today has revealed a total of 561 illegal small boat migrants have been sent back to France under the UK-France returns deal.

In return, 551 legal migrants have been sent to the UK from France as part of the deal.