French authorities have stopped less than 50% of Channel crossing attempts in last year – despite being given £480m from British taxpayers to solve migrant crisis

Figures show France is intercepting fewer than 50 per cent of Channel crossing attempts in the last year – despite a £480 million deal with the Britain to solve the migrant crisis. 

Last year, Rishi Sunak agreed the three-year deal with France in a bid to reduce immigration. But figures obtained by The Telegraph show just 45.2 per cent of migrants have been stopped since January, in comparison to 45.8 per cent the year before. 

Tim Loughton, a former minister and a member of the Commons home affairs committee described the figures as ‘disappointing’ given the ‘huge investment’.  

‘Clearly we are paying more money for the French police to continue failing to stop even more migrants on the beaches before they get into the water. We need an immediate value for money assessment of exactly what the British taxpayer is getting for their money,’ he added.

This follows the EU’s rejection of  a deal which would’ve allowed migrants to be sent back to France.

The figures from the French authorities show the number of migrants crossing had fallen from 20,119 last year to 16,659 this year

Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, said it is in the interest of both the UK and France to ‘work together’ to bring the small boats crisis to an end. 

The £480 million cash injection is funding more patrolling officers on French beaches, a joint command centre, and a detention centre. 

MP Elphicke said France should agree to joint patrols, which it has so far refused. It also maintains a policy of not intervening when boats are in the water, unless a dinghy is in distress. 

Last week all 39 migrants aboard Bibby Stockholm were evacuated amid fears of Legionnaires disease. 

Additionally, the Government’s asylum deal with Rwanda remains in legal limbo after it was declared unlawful on human rights grounds by the Court of Appeal in June.

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is said to be holding meetings to discuss the barge, which the Government hoped would house up to 500 migrants. Local councillors have vowed not to see the boat back in use.

Home Office said the number of people ‘risking their lives’ by making these dangerous crossings is ‘unacceptable’

Boats crossing the channel sometimes hold up to 70 people

The figures from the French authorities show the number of migrants crossing had fallen from 20,119 last year to 16,659 this year.

The Home Office said the number of people ‘risking their lives’ by making these dangerous crossings is ‘unacceptable’.

‘The Government is going even further through our Illegal Migration Act, which will mean that people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.

The number of boats crossing the channel has seen a significant drop since last year, from 856 to 511. But the boats that do come are said to be bigger and  hold up to 70 people at a time.