Fears of increased small boat Channel crossings as UK-French deal nears end

<p>New agreement delayed amid home secretary Shabana Mahmood’s demands for more interceptions of dinghies</p><p>A renewed deal between the UK and France to stop small boat Channel crossings has not yet been signed, with a day to go before the current one expires, raising questions about whether people smugglers will be able to act unimpeded from later this week.</p><p>Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2023/mar/10/paris-summit-a-new-beginning-for-france-and-uk-says-rishi-sunak-video">announced</a> the previous £468m deal on 10 March 2023, weeks before it came into force. The UK pays two-thirds of the cost of policing France’s northern border and the current agreement expires on Tuesday. Discussions on it began last July at the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-leaders-declaration">37th UK-France summit</a> and British officials travelled to Paris last week for another round of talks.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/30/fears-increased-small-boat-channel-crossings-uk-french-deal-nears-end-shabana-mahmood">Continue reading...</a>