During 2018, over 500 migrants attempted to travel to the UK on small vessels. Around 40% of those were either disrupted by French law enforcement or returned to France via French agencies.

80% of attempts were made in the last three months of the year and, in response, the Home Secretary announced a major incident in order to protect the lives of those attempting the crossing, and also to protect the border.

Part of the response was to build on the strong and collaborative relationship the UK has with France on this issue. Last year’s Sandhurst Treaty, a bilateral agreement between the UK and France, reinforced the commitment of both sides to work together on border security issues.

On 24 January 2019, the Home Secretary and the French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner signed a joint action plan, which includes:

• Over £6 million (€7m) investment in new security equipment;

• Increased CCTV coverage of beaches and ports, air surveillance and shared intelligence; and

• A mutual commitment to conduct returns as quickly as possible under international and domestic laws.

In regard to returns, it is the UK’s obligation, under international law, to take those rescued at sea to the nearest safe port. It is also an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

Therefore, if we establish that a migrant has first entered another EU Member State and either engaged with the asylum system there or resided in that country for over five months, we will seek to return them there in accordance with the Dublin III Regulation.

To date, the Government has returned a number of migrants who crossed the Channel in small boats to various EU Member States, and we continue to pursue further returns where appropriate.

We will be working to secure a comprehensive returns agreement with the EU that replaces our obligations under Dublin once we leave the EU.

Home Office.