Britain’s costly battle to stop small boats crossing the Channel has erupted into a fresh political row after claims French police are effectively charging taxpayers thousands of pounds for every migrant they prevent from reaching UK shores.
Despite almost £1billion in border agreements with France, critics say fewer crossings are being stopped and accuse French authorities of failing to use the powers available to them.
Robert Bates, of the Centre for Migration Control, claimed Britain was being taken for a ride.
“The French are laughing at us,” he said. “It is clear they have no real interest in ending the Channel crisis.”
Figures show that around 50,903 migrants have been prevented from making the journey since May 2024. Over the same period, Britain has spent or committed up to £411.5million on agreements with France — equivalent to roughly £8,084 for each person stopped.
The total includes funding from a deal signed under Rishi Sunak and a new £662million agreement reached this year, part of which is linked to French enforcement results.
But critics argue the figures mask a deeper problem: many migrants intercepted by French authorities simply try again.
Mr Bates claimed French officers often refuse to intervene when boats reach shallow waters and allow departures to continue.
The political pressure comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Dover and vowed to be “relentless” in tackling the small boats crisis, while admitting “there is more to do”.
More than 2,000 people have crossed the Channel since he entered Downing Street on July 20, including 326 arrivals in four boats on Saturday.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp recently visited a crossing hotspot in France, where he claimed officers told him they had orders to allow boats to leave.
One officer allegedly told him: “Our order is to let them go. We just have to say to them, ‘don’t do that, it’s dangerous’.”
Mr Philp also claimed he witnessed French authorities providing lifejackets to migrants before they continued their journey.
The Government rejected criticism, insisting the latest enforcement agreement with France was delivering results. The Home Office said £342million had been paid so far, not £411.5million, and pointed to rising removals and falling asylum claims.
But with boats still arriving and public frustration mounting, the Channel crisis remains one of the toughest political challenges facing Britain’s new government.
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