To the frustration of many politicians and their voters, millions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money, handed over to French police, has failed to reduce the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.
French rules on migrants’ safety in the water have prevented the police from tackling them once they put to sea.
But those rules are being changed. In the week to the 16th of June more than 17 hundred people attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats.
Over 16 and a half thousand people have made it across so far in 2025 according to Home Office figures, a 45% increase on the same period last year.
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