Migrants make crossing to UK after small boats deal clinched with France

Migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday, marking the first small boat arrivals since the UK signed a new agreement with the French this week to curb crossings.

A group of more than a dozen people thought to be migrants, including women and children, were pictured being brought into the Border Security Command compound in Dover after being collected in the Channel.

It means the UK will hand over £501 million to cover five police units and enforcement activity on French beaches – with an extra £160 million only paid if new tactics to curb Channel crossings succeed.

Ministers have, however, stopped short of setting specific targets to measure the success of the deal.

So far this year, more than 6,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after making the journey, down 36% on the number this time last year, Press Association analysis of Government figures shows.