France has “intensified” its work to stop the growing number of small boat migrant crossings, No10 said ahead of a “historic” state visit by Emmanuel Macron to the UK this week.
The French president will arrive in Britain on Tuesday for a three-day state visit.
Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron will hold talks on key priorities for Britain and France including on migration, economic growth, as well as on defence and security in the face of the threat from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, China and other states.
Britain and France have led efforts to establish the coalition, a peacekeeping force aimed at policing any future ceasefire deal in Ukraine, and deterring further threats by Russia.
On migration ,the UK has been pushing for a “one-in-one-out” deal with France to tackle the “small boats” crisis which is seeing a growing number of people risking their lives to cross the Channel in overcrowded, unseaworthy inflatable vessels, and an increasing number of fatalities.
Under the “one-in-one-out” plan, Britain would return asylum seekers and economic migrants who reached the UK shores by “small boats” to France, and allow people in France with a legitimate right to come to the UK, such as through family reunification, to do so.
A “one-in-one-out” pilot scheme has reportedly been planned.
Amid some doubts whether this would be announced during Mr Macron’s visit, No10 declined to comment on it.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman stressed that “on migration, the French are our closest partner”.
He added: “The operational response along the French northern coastline has intensified in recent weeks with new specialist officers and state-of-the-art surveillance technology.
“We are the first Government to have secured agreement from the French to review their maritime tactics so their border enforcement teams can intervene in shallow waters.
“This is operationally and legally complex but we are working closely with the French and expect this to be operationalised soon.”
They are believed to have acted as the vessel was so dangerously overcrowded, with at least one young girl being crushed inside it.
French police used tear gas and pepper spray last month to try to disperse a crowd of migrants at Gravelines, near Calais, seeking to reach boats heading to the UK.
But French police unions have raised concerns over officers intervening in shallow waters, and the risk of this leading to more deaths of migrants.
A charity operating in northern France said French police had already been intervening in crossing attempts in shallow waters despite the new rules not yet being in place.
Kate O’Neill, advocacy coordinator at Project Play, said: “This is not a new tactic ... it’s something that has been happening for a long time in Calais and surrounding areas.”
She also warned it was a “dangerous” tactic as children were “often in the middle of the boats”.
Some 15 children are reported to have died while attempting the Channel crossing in 2024.
In its manifesto last year, Labour promised to “smash the gangs” smuggling people across the Channel in small boats.
