Britain’s border agreements with France after analysis suggested the UK is footing an eyewatering bill for each migrant stopped has sparked a furious reaction.
British taxpayers are effectively paying more than £8,000 for every migrant stopped at the Channel (Image: Getty)
British taxpayers are effectively paying more than £8,000 for every migrant prevented from crossing the Channel under border agreements with France, according to analysis of Home Office figures.
Fresh scrutiny has fallen on Anglo-French migration deals after data suggested police in northern France have prevented fewer attempted crossings this year, despite Britain committing up to £1billion through successive border agreements.
Robert Bates, at the Centre for Migration Control, said: “The French are laughing at us. It is clear they have no real interest in ending the Channel crisis.”
The figures emerged as Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Dover on Sunday, where he pledged to strengthen border security after around 2,000 migrants crossed the Channel since he entered No 10 last month.
While promising to restore control of Britain’s borders, the Prime Minister stopped short of announcing specific new measures.
Cost of Channel agreements under spotlight
Analysis of Home Office data indicates that 50,903 migrants have been prevented from crossing from northern France since May 2024.
During the same 27-month period, Britain has spent or allocated up to £411.5million under agreements with France, including an estimated £73.5million covering April to July this year under a deal signed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in April.
Based on those figures, the cost works out at around £8,084 for every migrant prevented from reaching the UK.
The funding estimate includes payments under the £476million agreement signed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023, alongside a new £662million deal finalised this year.
Of that latest agreement, around £161million is linked to performance targets, meaning France may not receive the full amount if agreed results are not achieved.
Mr Bates said: “The French police cannot be relied on, refusing to stop boats in shallow water and standing by as hundreds depart from the shore. Those migrants that are stopped from crossing simply try again at a later date.”
Prevention rates fall in 2026
Further analysis suggests French police have prevented a smaller proportion of attempted crossings so far in 2026 compared with the same period last year, reports The Sun.
Between January and the end of July, 34.8 per cent of attempted crossings were stopped, compared with 39 per cent during the corresponding months in 2025, although total crossing attempts were significantly higher last year.
On Saturday, The Sun the Express reported on people-smugglers launching boats from beaches while children played nearby.
Photographs showed up to 100 migrants wearing life jackets walking towards an inflatable dinghy in Neufchâtel-Hardelot.
The vessel reportedly collected around 80 would-be asylum seekers at around 4pm, while roughly 20 others who could not board returned towards the town.
A total of 326 migrants arrived in Britain that day as police appeared not to intervene.
French authorities classify arrests, the seizure of dinghies and smuggling equipment—including boats and life jackets—as “preventions”, although many migrants who are stopped reportedly make further attempts days or weeks later.
Updated rules now allow so-called “taxi boats” to be intercepted at sea. However, French police unions have instructed officers to follow existing operational guidance and withdraw once dinghies enter the water.
Some recent weeks have seen large numbers of successful crossings.
Between June 15 and June 21, 1,912 migrants arrived in the UK while French officers prevented 800 crossings.
During one week in late March, officers reportedly stopped just 39 people, while 272 launched successfully.
Between July 19 and July 26—the week Mr Burnham became Prime Minister—881 migrants reached Britain compared with 504 prevented.
Burnham: “We need to do more”
Speaking during his visit to Border Force headquarters near Dover, Mr Burnham said progress had been made despite continued pressure on the Channel route.
After meeting Interim Chief Coastguard John Craig and Border Security Commander Duncan Capps, the Prime Minister told reporters: “Although this is the peak period for crossings, overall the number of crossings is down, the number of removals of people is up.
“So, there is progress, but we both recognise that we need to do more. The public don’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled. We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.
“It’s about changing the whole approach. There’s more to be done.”
During the visit, the Prime Minister was shown a small boat used by 96 migrants in May, along with a surveillance drone deployed to monitor activity in the Channel.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she remained “laser-light focused” on tackling illegal migration during a visit to the National Crime Agency’s offices in Stratford, east London.
She also highlighted that the number of immigration crime officers has increased from 376 to 791.
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp argued that if ministers were serious about strengthening border controls, they should adopt the party’s proposal to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
Chris Philp: French authorities stand by as migrants climb on boat
Crossing numbers remain below last year
Last Wednesday was the busiest day for Channel crossings so far this year, with 752 migrants arriving.
The provisional total for 2026 currently stands at 14,526 after two more boats reached Britain early on Sunday.
That remains below the equivalent point last year, when 25,436 people had crossed the Channel, and is also 14 per cent lower than the same stage in 2024.
Home Office sources said they did not recognise the £411.5million estimate, stating that £342million has so far been paid under the Sandhurst agreements with France.
Even using that lower figure, the cost equates to more than £6,700 per migrant prevented.
A Home Office spokesman said: “This Government is bearing down on crossings, with removals of migrants at record levels, and asylum claims down by 12 per cent.
“The Home Secretary has signed a landmark payments-by-results deal with France to boost enforcement on beaches, strengthen intelligence-led disruption activity and put people-smugglers behind bars.
“The deal is delivering more officers, enhanced surveillance and tougher action against the criminal gangs behind these crossings. This has helped to seize more than 1,100 boats and engines that could have facilitated over 72,000 crossings, while preventing more than 46,000 attempted Channel crossings since the Election.”
Meanwhile, Reform has pledged to deploy the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats and return them to France or Belgium.
The party’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said: “To those with no right to enter Britain, our border will be impenetrable.”