Braverman reveals new deal with France to crackdown on illegal immigration

BRITAIN and France on Monday (November 14) signed an agreement worth 72.2 million euros ($74.5 million) over the coming year to ramp up efforts to stop illegal migrants from making perilous journeys across the Channel.

So far this year more than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, up from 28,526 last year, putting pressure on new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and interior minister Suella Braverman to do more to stem the flow.

"(The deal) represents a positive next to our collaboration with the French," Braverman said, after meeting with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin in Paris on Monday morning.

"It's not going to fix it overnight... but I think for the first time we have some real wins for both the French and the UK."

As a result of the deal, British officers will be embedded in French-led control rooms and on the ground with their counterparts for the first time to improve coordination and information sharing.

"There'll be a 40% uplift in the number of French gendarmes patrolling the French beaches, and there'll be stronger and closer collaboration when it comes to criminal law enforcement, intelligence collaboration and interception upstream," said Braverman.