The United Kingdom rescued or intercepted a total of 1,115 migrants crossing the Channel on board small boats on Friday and Saturday, the British Home Office said on Sunday.
On Saturday, British authorities recovered 491 people in 17 operations and 624 people in 23 operations on Friday.
The British Home Office says French authorities prevented 114 people from reaching the English coast on Saturday, 300 Fridays.
In a statement, Commander Dan O'Mahoney, in charge of the “clandestine threat” in the Channel, underlined the British government's determination to fight against the “unacceptable increase” in these dangerous crossings.
"In collaboration with the police and our international partners, more than 300 arrests and 65 convictions have been carried out" and "our targeted efforts have made it possible to prevent more than 13,500 attempts" at crossings since the beginning of the year, "a he added.
More than 17,000 people since the start of the year
According to the count by the British news agency AP, more than 17,000 migrants have managed to make the crossing to England in small boats since the beginning of the year, more than double the figure for the whole. of the year 2020. The subject is regularly a source of tension between London and Paris.
During a trip to Loon-Plage (North) on Saturday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin asked for a migration treaty to be negotiated between the EU and the United Kingdom.
He also asked the British government to honor its commitment to pay France 62.7 million euros in 2021-2022 to finance the strengthening of French law enforcement on the coasts.
Read alsoMigrants: Darmanin demands accountability from the United Kingdom and wants a European treaty
"We call on the British to keep their promise of funding since we hold the border for them," he said.
The British government has started to pass a controversial bill reforming the asylum system and providing for tougher penalties, increasing to life in prison, from the current 14 years, the maximum penalty for smugglers.
