Crossings 'could drop 75%' with fresh UK-France deal

MINISTERS could cut the number of Channel crossings by 75% in the next three years by scaling up "routes and returns" based on the existing UK-France returns agreement, a report has suggested.

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Immigration think tank British Future has argued a combination of control and compassion could address the issue and that polling suggests the approach is backed by the British public.

In “How we can actually stop the boats?”, the authors call for the UK-France “one in, one out” deal to be expanded so the majority of people who make the journey across the Channel from France without permission will be sent back to the Continent.

At the same time, the report proposes allowing for a significant number of people to have the right to claim asylum through an expanded and regularised route to the UK, which would undermine the smuggling gangs’ business model.