Do French authorities stop any migrants from crossing?

Migration on small boats across the English Channel is on track to reach its highest-ever levels this year, with records being broken even before the summer peak begins.

- ALICJA HAGOPIAN

More than 21,000 migrants have already crossed the Channel from France this year - up 55 per cent from the same period in 2024 meaning Sir Keir Starmer is on track to oversee the highest year for small boats migration to the UK on record.

Last year proved to be the deadliest for channel migration, with 73 migrants dying while making the crossing, but it appears the situation is only set to get worse. Labour promised to tackle small boat migration in its manifesto, with the issue set to be front and centre on the agenda for this week's visit from French president Emmanuel Macron.

Over a three-day state visit, Sir Keir is hoping to finalise a longawaited "one in, one out" agreement but is highly unlikely to land it because of opposition from other EU countries and President Macron's political opponents in France.

The PM and his French counterpart are also expected to discuss increasing enforcement from French border police. Last month, French authorities were photographed watching on and escorting as people smugglers boarded migrants onto boats headed for the UK. French police are typically unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters.

Defence secretary John Healey called the scene "pretty shocking", deeming the lack of action a "really big problem".

Last week, the BBC captured footage of French police using knives to slash a small boat carrying migrants in shallow waters.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said that while "it wasn't pleasant to see", the push to prevent people crossing into the UK is "action we are supporting".

The facts on small boat migration