Two new specialist units have been deployed on France’s northern coastline to target illegal migration and the smuggling networks trying to send small boats across the Channel to the UK.
Under a new agreement between the UK and France, a dedicated riot-style unit is now operating in northern France to disrupt crossing attempts, prevent launches, and track down those involved in people smuggling. The Compagnie de Marche has also been brought in as part of the wider effort.
The move is part of ongoing cooperation between European partners dealing with irregular migration. In recent operations, authorities in Germany, working with French and UK agencies, seized dozens of boats and engines, stopping more than 2,000 attempted journeys towards British shores.
Those raids were carried out jointly by the National Crime Agency, German Federal Police, and French anti-smuggling units.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Working in lockstep with our closest partners is the only way to make real progress in tackling the shared challenge of illegal migration. These elite units are just one part of the landmark deal between our countries that takes cooperation to the next level.”
He added that almost half of attempted crossings were disrupted by French authorities last month, and the new measures are designed to push that figure higher.
The Compagnie de Marche will operate alongside drones, aircraft, and coastal surveillance systems to break up launch sites, seize equipment, and intercept migrants before they reach the Channel.
The unit includes around 75 officers, with numbers expected to increase during the summer months. They will be deployed in hotspot areas and on high-risk days when crossings are most likely.
Their role includes using public order powers to deal with clashes on beaches and strengthen patrols along the coast.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the strategy focuses pressure directly on launch points: “We are targeting criminal gangs and stopping crossings before they begin.”
She added that the Compagnie de Marche has already helped prevent illegal departures, and that extra officers during the summer will further strengthen enforcement.
The UK–France deal includes around £500 million in funding to improve enforcement on northern French beaches, with an additional £160 million linked to the effectiveness of new tactics.
Officials say the agreement will boost law enforcement presence by around 40 percent to tackle small boat crossings.
Separately, prosecutors recently handed down the first sentences under the Border Security Act to individuals involved in piloting small boats. An Afghan national, Mohammad Tajik, received a two-year sentence, while Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali was sentenced to two years and three months.
Since the 2024 general election, the government says more than 70,000 illegal migrants have been removed, including a significant number of voluntary returns.
