France agrees to stop small boats after UK pressure

French police will intercept small boats at sea in an attempt to stop migrants crossing the Channel after mounting pressure from the UK for them to do more to prevent the perilous journeys.

- HOLLY BANCROFT HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT

A document seen by French newspaper Le Monde, signed by four prefectures in the north of France, agrees that maritime police will start “planned operations” to intercept the dinghies before migrants board them. The push-backs will begin at sea initially, and then be conducted in the “inland waters” of ports and channels, the paper reported.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer reportedly sent a letter to French president Emmanuel Macron, putting pressure on him to act on small boat crossings and promising significant funding. The letter, quoted by French media, says: “It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel”.

But charity Care4Calais, which supports migrants, has condemned the move as “dangerous” and said it will put lives at risk.

France has been under pressure from the UK to intercept small boats amid growing public anger over illegal migration, as Labour ramps up its efforts to deter people from making the crossings.

The new agreement will see France’s maritime gendarmerie attempt to intercept so-called “taxi boats” that cruise along the shore waiting for migrants to wade out to them before picking them up to cross the Channel.