The United Kingdom and France have joined forces to tackle illegal migration across the Channel, with the goal of ending this inhumane trade in human lives. Under a new multi-year agreement, the countries will increase patrols and deploy more personnel and enhanced technology to intercept attempted crossings, reducing the number of crossings each year. This article will delve into the details of the agreement, how it aims to work towards curbing illegal migration and the consequences of such an approach.

New Detention Center to be Built in France

To boost French efforts to increase detention capacity, the UK will help fund a detention center in France, the first of its kind. It will enable French law enforcement officers to prevent illegal Channel crossings, intercepting and detaining those who have been trafficked across the Channel. This will allow more migrants who might otherwise travel by dangerous and illegal routes to be removed from the French coast.

Patrols and Personnel Deployments to be Increased

The new agreement builds on joint measures taken with France in 2022, which saw patrols increased by 40%. Today's agreement will more than double the number of personnel deployed in northern France to tackle small boats. Over half of these personnel will be in place by the end of the year. The UK will contribute funds to this deployment. The agreement also includes the deployment of additional drones, aircraft and other technologies such as surveillance.

24/7 Zonal Coordination Centre to be Set Up

A new 24/7 zonal coordination centre, with permanent UK liaison officers, will be set up to oversee French efforts. The coordination centre will bring together all relevant French law enforcement partners to coordinate the response to the alarming trend of a 50% rise in illegal migration across Europe in the last year. The UK has its own Small Boats Operations Command, which has ensured that 99% of those who enter British waters are intercepted.

UK-France Cooperation Upstream to Stop Illegal Migration

Alongside last year's deal with France, further UK and French cooperation upstream will stop illegal migration at the source. This includes further coordination between the National Crime Agency and its French counterpart via officers based in countries along the routes favored by people traffickers.

The Prime Minister's Statement

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the agreement, stating, "We don't need to manage this problem; we need to break it. And today, we have gone further than ever before to put an end to this disgusting trade in human life." Sunak continued by highlighting that the UK and France are working together to ensure that nobody can exploit the system with impunity.

Skepticism and Considerations

While the agreement's primary goal is to stop illegal migration and reduce the number of crossings each year, the question remains whether or not the agreement will violate human rights and lead to the mistreatment of migrants. This raises concerns, as migrants are often subject to inhumane conditions in detention centers. Furthermore, this approach ignores the root causes of migration, such as poverty and political instability, and the responsibility of wealthy nations to address these underlying issues.