French police accused of wasting taxpayers' cash after billing Britain £8,000 per migrant stopped

The French police have been accused of wasting taxpayers' cash after billing Britain £8,000 per migrant stopped from crossing the Channel.

Officers in Calais have intervened in fewer crossings this year, despite Britain forking out roughly £1billion under border agreements with France.

Robert Bates, of 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."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Dover yesterday, pledging the tackle the crisis, but did not offer any new plan.

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He said he would be "relentless" in overcoming the small boats crisis, insisting "progress is being made", while admitting there was "more to be done".

More than 2,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Andy Burnham succeeded to power on July 20.

The latest figures show 326 migrants arrived on Saturday across four vessels.

Figures also show 50,903 migrants have been stopped from making the Channel crossing since May 2024, the Sun reports.

Over that period, the UK has spent or committed up to £411.5million on deals with France.

This works out at £8,084 for every migrant prevented from reaching Britain.

The total includes money from a 2023 deal signed under Rishi Sunak, plus a new £662million agreement finalised this year.

Around £161million of that funding depends on results, meaning France could lose out if crossings continue.

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Mr Bates said French police often refuse to intervene in shallow water, watching as boats depart from the shore.

He told the Sun that migrants who are stopped simply attempt the crossing again later.

Figures show French police performance has worsened compared with last year.

Between January and July, 34.8 per cent of attempted crossings were halted, down from 39 per cent over the same period in 2025 — though overall crossing numbers were far higher that year.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp travelled to a small boat crossing hotspot last week, where he spoke to the French Gendarmes and migrants.

Speaking to an officer, Mr Philp asked: "Why have you allowed the migrants into the water? Why haven't you stopped them?"

One officer shrugged his shoulders and said: "Our order is to let them go.

"We just have to say to them, ‘don’t do that, it’s dangerous'."

The Shadow Home Secretary also witnessed the French Navy handing over lifejackets to small boat passengers and "waving them off" as they set sail for Britain.

He concluded the Government should adopt the Conservatives' plan of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, if it was serious about tackling border control.

France classifies arrests, boat seizures and confiscated equipment as "preventions", but many of those intercepted attempt the crossing again shortly after.

New rules allow so-called "taxi boats" to be intercepted at sea, though police unions have told officers to hold back once boats reach the water.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she remained focused on the issue, highlighting that immigration crime officer numbers have more than doubled to 791.

The Home Office disputed the £411.5million figure, saying only £342million has been paid under the UK-France agreement so far.

This is still equivalent to more than £6,700 per migrant.

A spokesman said the Government was achieving record removals and a 12 per cent fall in asylum claims, crediting a new payments-by-results deal with France for stronger enforcement and thousands of prevented crossings.

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