UK to pay France up to $892 million in deal to reduce migrant crossings

UK to Pay France $892 Million Over Three Years to Tackle Channel Migrant Crossings

Details of the UK-France Border Security Deal

Overview of the Agreement

LONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it would pay France up to 660 million pounds ($892 million) under a three-year border security deal to curb illegal migrant crossings of the Channel, with part of the funding contingent on results.

Recent Channel Crossing Statistics

• Around 41,000 people crossed the Channel to England in small boats in 2025, near the record set in 2022, official data show.

Allocation of Funds

Primary Enforcement Funding

• Some 500 million pounds will be used to boost enforcement on beaches in northern France, including the deployment of nearly 1,100 law enforcement, intelligence and military personnel.

Contingent Funding Based on Results

• A further 160 million pounds will be paid if the new tactics are judged to be successful at stopping migrants. If not, funding will stop after one year.

Comparison to Previous Agreements

• The deal replaces a previous three-year funding deal, worth around 480 million pounds when agreed in 2023, which expired earlier this year.

Enhanced Security Measures

• The new deal includes a new 50-strong riot police unit, expanded intelligence and judicial police teams, and additional maritime patrols.

• Surveillance measures include drones, two helicopters and enhanced camera systems. France would also deploy a new vessel and more than 20 additional maritime officers to intercept boats at sea.

Results of Joint UK-France Efforts

• The British government said joint work with France had already halted more than 42,000 attempted crossings since Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party took office in July 2024.

Exchange Rate Information

($1 = 0.7400 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James and Gareth Jones)