French authorities stopped less than 50% of attempts to cross the English Channel last year – despite receiving £480million from UK taxpayers to help solve the migrant crisis

Figures show France intercepted less than 50 per cent of attempts to cross the English Channel last year – despite a £480m deal with Britain to solve the migrant crisis.

Last year, Rishi Sunak signed a three-year deal with France to reduce immigration. However, figures from The Telegraph show that since January only 45.2 per cent of migrants have been stopped, compared to 45.8 per cent a year earlier.

Tim Loughton, a former minister and member of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, called the figures “disappointing” given the “huge investment”.

“Obviously we are paying more money for the French police’s continued inability to stop more migrants on the beaches before they get into the water.” British taxpayers get what they pay for,” he added.

This follows the EU’s rejection of an agreement that would have allowed migrants to be returned to France.

France intercepted less than 50 per cent of attempts to cross the English Channel last year – despite a £480million deal

French authorities’ figures show that the number of migrants crossing has fallen to 16,659 this year from 20,119 last year

Natalie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, said it was in the interests of Britain and France to “work together” to end the small boat crisis.

The £480million cash injection will fund more patrol officers on French beaches, a joint command center and a detention center.

MP Elphicke said France should agree to joint patrols, which it has so far refused to do. There is also a rule of not intervening when boats are in the water, unless a dinghy is in distress.

Last week, all 39 migrants aboard the Bibby Stockholm were evacuated amid fears of Legionnaires’ disease.

In addition, the government’s asylum deal with Rwanda remains in limbo after being ruled unlawful on human rights grounds by the Court of Appeal in June.

Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick is set to hold meetings to discuss the barge, which the government hoped would house up to 500 migrants. Local councilors have vowed not to put the boat back into service.

The Home Office said the number of people “risking their lives” through these dangerous crossings was “unacceptable”.

Boats crossing the canal sometimes carry up to 70 people

Figures from French authorities show the number of migrants crossing the border has fallen to 16,659 this year from 20,119 last year.

The Home Office said the number of people “risking their lives” through these dangerous crossings was “unacceptable”.

“The Government is taking this a step further with our Illegal Migration Act, which means people arriving in the UK illegally are arrested and promptly deported to their country of origin or a safe third country.”

The number of boats crossing the canal has fallen significantly since last year, from 856 to 511. However, the boats that are coming are said to be larger and capable of carrying up to 70 people at a time.