French authorities report that French units funded by the UK under the UK-France deal prevented 185 small boat events between 27 April and 2 August 2026, according to figures published on 21 August 2026.
The UK Government has published figures supplied by the French authorities on the first three months of the UK-France deal. They cover French police units funded by the UK.
According to that information, French officers prevented 185 small boat events between 27 April and 2 August. The action included stopping launches, seizing equipment such as boats, engines and lifejackets, and arresting smugglers.
The source states that 61% of all small boat events were stopped in this period. It describes this as an increase in the event prevention rate of nearly 5% compared with the same period in 2025. French reporting also indicates that in four weeks of the three months since the deal was signed, French units intercepted every potential crossing event, a prevention rate of 100%. The source says the action directly prevented over 4,300 crossing attempts.
Maritime interventions. Since new maritime tactics were first deployed on 3 March, French units have intercepted 12 taxi boats on the water. The source says three of these took place "in just the last 2 weeks", without giving a date for that period.
Trial to remove migrants from French beaches. A trial under the deal began on 1 May. French authorities report that 119 migrants have been detained in total. The source gives three further figures: 76 remain in detention, 32 have been released and 40 have been deported from France, either to their home countries or to other EU countries they passed through. It says the 40 deported is over 33% of those detained so far. The three figures add up to more than 119, and the source does not explain the difference. The trial is running while a permanent Immigration Removal Centre in Dunkirk is under construction.
Resources. Since the deal was signed, two additional police units are active on French beaches, including a new 50-person riot police unit. The source also says France is rolling out drone surveillance, two new helicopters and a new camera surveillance system.
UK figures. The Home Secretary is quoted as saying that joint work with France has stopped over 47,000 small boat crossing attempts since the election. The source says the number of dedicated National Crime Agency officers has risen from 276 at the start of 2025 to almost 800, and that over 1,100 small boats or engines have been seized since the election. It also states that over 80,000 people have been returned since the Government took office.
Sources
- France prevents 185 boats and 4,300 migrants reaching UK shores, GOV.UK, 21 August 2026