Breakthrough small boats deal reached with France as UK issues ultimatum

Breakthrough small boats deal reached with France as UK issues ultimatumHundreds of French officers and millions of pounds worth of drones and helicopters will be assigned to beaches in Northern France to tackle small boats after a breakthrough deal was reachedCommentsNewsDave Burke Political Correspondent 22:30, 22 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesA new agreement will see a surge in patrols on French beaches(Image: Getty Images)Hundreds more police officers will patrol beaches in Northern France to stop small boat crossings after a new deal was finally reached.‌Millions of pounds worth of drones and helicopters will be used to survey and prevent smugglers from packing dangerous vessels with migrants. The agreement will also see a 40% surge in officers assigned to stop small boats in France - with the UK warning that funding will stop without results.‌For the first time, payments will be dependent on reducing the number of people reaching the UK. At the moment 750 police, intelligence and military officers are assigned to the French coastline. This will rise to 1,100 under the agreement, which follows weeks of deadlock after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pushed to improve a deal reached by the Tories.‌The deal will see £500million invested to boost enforcement action. A further £160million will be spent if measures are successful. But campaigners warn focusing on policing the Channel alone will not work - with an expansion of safe routes the key way to tackle smuggling gangs.READ MORE: Fury as 'online mega-brothels' allowed to operate in open despite sex trafficking fearsREAD MORE: Defiant Keir Starmer lashes out at critics calling on him to quit at bad-tempered PMQsView 3 ImagesHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood has hailed the new agreement(Image: PA)Announcing the agreement, Keir Starmer said: "We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice.‌"Our work with the Fre...