UK, France agree deal on English Channel crossings

LONDON: France will double the number of police patrolling its beaches as part of a deal with the UK to stem the number of migrants crossing the English Channel, the media reported citing officials.

The UK will pay more than 54 million pounds as part of the deal agreed between ministers, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The Home Office said the two countries would also improve intelligence sharing and use better technology to target those who organise the crossings.

The number of people crossing the Channel this year has now overtaken last year's total.

A group of migrants was seen arriving at Dover on Wednesday morning, bringing the total number this year to more than the 8,461 who made the crossing in 2020.

On Monday, at least 430 migrants crossed the Channel — a record for one day. The previous daily high of 416 was set in September last year. The Home Office said on Tuesday that 287 people had landed in the UK.

On Tuesday, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and French interior minister Gerald Darmanin agreed to "strengthen co-operation".

The Home Office said UK support last year helped France double the number of officers deployed daily on the beaches of its northern coast. It said this resulted in France preventing twice as many crossings so far this year compared with the same period in 2020. (IANS)

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