France will £55 million from the UK government to prevent people crossing the English Channel to claim asylum in the UK. The number of people doing so has increased significantly recently. In 2019, approximately 1,900 people used this route in total. Last year, there were over 8,438 people recorded, and just halfway through 2021, at least 8,452 have already arrived. In July 2021 alone, there were 1,850 people recorded, with 430 individuals on July 19th 2021 alone – the highest daily figure on record.

To try to decrease the number of crossings, Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has signed an agreement with the French government that prevents boats from France making their way to the UK. The French border officials have also agreed to patrol a wider area of the border between the cities of Boulogne and Dunkirk. They will use aerial surveillance drones to increase how much of the area is covered by cameras – to dissuade individuals from attempting to make the dangerous crossing

There will also be an increased border security presence at the main crossing points all along the English Channel. The Guardian says that MPs are unhappy that the UK is being required to pay for these additional border patrols, whereas the Home Office says that the deal also includes a doubling of police patrols that will prevent individuals from attempting to make the journey.