Criticism over interception rates
French authorities have come under fire for only managing to intercept less than a third of migrants attempting to cross the Channel. Out of 980 people who tried to leave the beaches on small boats in the week commencing November 17, only 318 were prevented from making the journey.
Pressure on France to do more
Despite Britain paying France around £500 million to support efforts in curbing illegal migration, critics argue that taxpayers are not getting value for money. Downing Street has urged Paris to increase efforts in stopping small boat crossings, with Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman calling for a higher interception rate.
Accusations of hypocrisy
Last week, a group of French mayors criticized the UK government for asking them to intercept small boats while not doing enough to deter migration themselves. The lack of collaboration and seriousness in addressing the issue has led to accusations of hypocrisy and a breakdown in efforts to end Channel crossings.
