Latest statement in response to small boat crossings

A Home Office spokesperson said:

“This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings, with removals of small boat migrants at record levels and asylum claims down by 12%.

“The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars. This builds on joint work that has stopped over 44,000 attempted crossings since the election.

“We have removed or deported almost 70,000 people who were here illegally – an increase of 41% – and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.”

Background:

• The new UK-France deal to tackle illegal crossings will deliver:

• Surge of boots on the ground: French beaches will now see a 40% increase in law enforcement, intelligence and military officers to track down and stop illegal migrants boarding boats.
• New riot police unit: Currently law enforcement lacks some of the specialist skills required to contain and disperse groups of illegal migrants on beaches. The French have now deployed a unit of 50 police officers specially trained in the use of crowd control tactics to deal with hostile crowds, violent tactics and stop illegal migrants in their tracks.
• Expanded intelligence and judicial police unit: The intelligence work of this unit of 18 people led to the arrest of 480 people smugglers in 2025. The unit will expand to 30 specialists to ramp up arrests and prosecute people smugglers across the region.
• Enhanced surveillance capabilities: The French will now roll out millions of pounds worth of drone surveillance, two new helicopters and a new camera surveillance system will track down and intercept people smugglers and illegal migrants.
• Expansion of maritime tactics to target taxi boats: In the last two months, the French have stopped six migrant taxi boats, returning all migrants to France and sentencing five smugglers to prison and deportation. The French will now roll out these tactics with a new vessel and an increase of more than 20 additional maritime officers to target taxi boats picking up migrants in the channel.
• The Home Secretary laid new measures in Parliament on Thursday 5^th March which will remove support payments and accommodation for asylum seekers who illegally work, have the ability to support themselves, have the right to work, or have broken the law.
• Refugee status will now become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum.