French authorities are to take even stricter action against asylum seekers who try to cross the English Channel in the future. Image: keystone
Britain wants to pay France 770 million pounds to prevent boat crossings of the English Channel by asylum seekers.
April 23, 2026, 5:10 p.mApril 23, 2026, 6:17 p.m
The British government has approved a new border security agreement between Great Britain and France worth 660 million pounds (around 700 million francs). The new three-year agreement, which is due to be signed on Thursday, includes a whole range of repressive measures to stop migrants from crossing the English Channel towards the English coast.
As part of the agreement, five new police units will be created, including a 50-member riot police unit that will be trained in “crowd control measures.” The force is supposed to use batons, shields and pepper spray to prevent “hostile groups and violent action” on France’s beaches, according to the British Home Office Reports from the “Guardian” and the BBC writes.
More staff, more supervision
With a total of 1,100 police, military and security officers, the British government wants to prevent asylum seekers from France from trying to cross to England – a personnel increase of 40 percent. The government also wants to purchase two new helicopters and drones to monitor the beaches. The cost of the English Channel upgrade is £500 million. If the measures are effective, the government in London wants to transfer a further 160 million pounds to France.
While around 41,000 people crossed the English Channel by boat last year, current figures show a 36 percent decline in crossings this year. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement about the agreement: “Our cooperation with France has already prevented tens of thousands of border crossings, and the government has deported or sent back almost 60,000 people without residency rights. This historic agreement allows us to go even further.”
NGOs criticize agreements
Human rights organizations in England have sharply criticized the Tory government’s actions. This is what Sile Reynolds, head of the asylum law department at Freedom from Torture, told the Guardian:
“Many of the people who will suffer from these harsh tactics have already suffered state violence while fleeing persecution. Now they will face the full brutality of French riot police – a security agency that has been criticized by the UN Committee against Torture for excessive use of force.”
Imran Hussain, director of external relations at the British Refugee Council, doubts that the new measures will deter asylum seekers from the dangerous crossing: “We know from our work on the front line why people risk their lives to get to the UK: many already speak some English, have family here or cultural connections to Great Britain. Without safe routes to the UK, these men, women and children will be forced to make dangerous and potentially deadly journeys on small boats.” (July)