The UK government has agreed to pay France an additional £660 million over three years to curb Channel crossings, including funding for a 50-strong riot squad trained in crowd control tactics. The deal, to be signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Thursday, will see 1,100 enforcement, intelligence and military officers deployed—a 40% increase—to target smuggling gangs and asylum seekers.
The riot squad, equipped with batons, shields and teargas, will be used to 'contain and disperse' people attempting to board small boats. This marks the first time the UK has funded a dedicated riot squad for this purpose, following criticism from the UN Committee Against Torture over French police's excessive use of force.
Asylum seeker organisations condemned the plan. Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture, called it a 'deeply alarming' escalation, stating that 'many of the people who will be harmed by these heavy-handed tactics have already endured state violence during their flight from persecution.' Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council added that 'policing alone will not prevent desperate people from turning to dangerous small boats.'
The deal includes a baseline package of £500 million for enforcement on northern French beaches, covering five new police units, 20 additional maritime officers, an expanded intelligence unit, and two new helicopters. A further £160 million is set aside for 'new approaches,' with £50 million spent in the first year; the remaining £110 million may be withheld if results are not achieved, in what the government calls a 'payment-by-results' scheme.
The previous £478 million deal expired on 31 March. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the agreement 'means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain's borders.' The Labour government faces pressure from Reform UK to curb migration ahead of local elections.
