"The Home Office said it had prevented 40,000 crossing attempts since Labour came to office. However, 2025 was the second highest year on record for small boat crossings since they began in 2018, with approximately 41,500 people arriving in the UK in dinghies."
"One Home Office source with detailed knowledge of Anglo-French negotiations said that while it was right that the home secretary was pushing for a performance-based deal, security was not something to be bought in France and they would resist this approach vociferously."
The UK and France have not yet signed a renewed deal to prevent small boat crossings in the Channel, with the current agreement set to expire soon. The previous deal, worth £468 million, was announced in March 2023. Discussions began last July, but delays have occurred due to negotiations over increased interceptions of dinghies. The Home Office claims to have prevented 40,000 crossing attempts since Labour took office, yet 2025 saw a record number of crossings. Concerns remain about the effectiveness of the negotiations and potential gaps in security.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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