Channel crossings

France and the UK have agreed to increase staffing at border controls to address travel disruptions caused by new fingerprinting and facial recognition checks. Disruption at Channel crossings is expected to rise next weekend as the summer holiday season begins, with MPs warning of potential chaos unless the EU’s entry/exit system (EES) is fixed or checks are suspended.

A Sudanese asylum seeker and an Afghan national were jailed for their involvement in Channel crossings after being convicted of the new offense of endangering lives at sea.

Winston Marshall, son of Spectator owner Paul Marshall and former Mumford & Sons musician, has proposed a mine-laden 'floating wall' to stop Channel crossings, calling migrants 'economic migrants' rather than refugees. He argues previous measures have failed and the idea, though extreme, should be considered.

The UK government will pay France £660m over three years to address Channel crossings, including funding for a riot squad to disperse asylum seekers attempting to board small boats. The deal involves a 40% increase in enforcement, intelligence, and military officers to target smuggling gangs and track people seeking refuge.