A new detention centre for migrants attempting to cross the English Channel will be established in France, funded by the UK, as part of a renewed agreement between Britain and France to tackle illegal crossings.

New Detention Facility Details

The facility, located near Dunkirk, will have a limited capacity of 140 individuals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that French authorities will detain migrants on beaches, transfer them to the centre, and subsequently deport them. This fulfils a promise made three years ago.

Agreement Background

The agreement builds upon initial discussions between then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2023. The centre will be staffed by over 100 officers and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Scale and Effectiveness Concerns

The centre’s capacity is significantly lower than the number of migrants who have already reached the UK this year – over 6,000, including a single-day peak of 602 arrivals last week. The Home Office anticipates the scheme will facilitate the removal of hundreds of migrants annually, but questions remain about its ability to deter crossings.

Targeted Nationalities

French law enforcement will prioritize the removal of migrants from ten nationalities most frequently attempting the Channel crossing: Eritreans, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese, Somalis, Ethiopians, Iraqis, Syrians, Vietnamese, and Yemenis. Deportations will target migrants’ countries of origin or EU nations they have transited through.

Financial Agreement and Criticism

This initiative is part of a £160 million ‘payment by results’ agreement between the UK and France, with funding potentially withdrawn if the scheme fails to demonstrate success. The broader three-year deal provides France with up to £660 million for patrols and related measures, bringing the total British financial contribution to over £1.3 billion.

Political Response

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has criticized the centre’s limited capacity and the ‘value for money’ criteria. He advocates for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights to enable swift deportations. Ms. Mahmood previously acknowledged the limited impact of the current agreement with France.

The government is also offering financial incentives – up to £40,000 per family – for failed asylum seekers to voluntarily leave the UK.