Overview
- French coastguard vessels rescued 78 people after a small boat’s engine failed during a bid to leave from Belgium, with those rescued taken to Calais for care.
- Official figures put this year’s small‑boat arrivals at about 4,169, including 190 on Sunday, with more people brought ashore in Dover on Monday.
- The Home Office confirmed Border Security Command head Martin Hewitt will leave at the end of March after 18 months in the role.
- Downing Street says the UK and France are united as a Home Office team heads to Paris to negotiate renewal of the near‑£500m deal, with value‑for‑money and performance‑linked terms under consideration.
- French and UK authorities say they are preparing for further attempts as weather improves, and the coastguard warned the busy Channel remains particularly dangerous even in calm conditions.