Britain and France will step up efforts to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, Britain's home secretary said after figures showed more than 1,000 people had made the crossing so far this month.
British Home Secretary James Cleverley held talks in Paris with French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, with both sides boasting how increased cooperation had led to a 36% reduction in crossings last year.
However, the latest figures from the UK Home Office show that more than 1,000 people have crossed from France to England so far in January, with 276 making the journey last Sunday alone.
"We will expand this work even more narrowly to disrupt this evil business model of human traffickers," Cleavery told AFP, adding that the January figures "are not what any of us want to see".
But he added that the reduction in 2023 "cannot be explained by poor weather conditions alone, but is a sign of the excellent and close working relationship we have with France".
"I look forward to continuing the excellent working relationship with Interior Minister Darmanin and the French authorities in general."
A statement from the UK Home Office said the two countries had agreed to "accelerate implementation" of the March 2023 agreement between Paris and London to strengthen cooperation./BGNES
