Overview
- British officials, who are in Paris this week, are trying to renew the patrol pact before it expires next Tuesday under a plan that would link UK funding to French interception targets.
- France’s stop rate has fallen to about 37 percent from more than 50 percent after the 2023 deal, with one recent week dropping to 19 percent, according to published tallies.
- Nearly 1,000 people crossed in six to seven days during recent fair weather, raising fears that a gap in funding could invite more launches.
- Britain pays nearly two thirds of the £160 million yearly cost of French patrols, and ministers say any renewal must show clear value for money through performance clauses.
- New research reported by The Independent links tougher policing since the 2023 pact to more overcrowded dinghies and a sharp rise in deaths near French shores, a risk negotiators now have to weigh.