France claims it will increase the number of rescue boats on the English Channel in order to handle the increasing number of migrants trying reach the UK.
The French Coastguard described the deployment of two additional vessels as “unprecedented”.
This year, more than 40,000 people crossed the border – a record.
According to the French Coastguard, the Laperouse survey ship has just arrived at Calais. The Kermorvan patrol vessel will arrive in Calais in the following days.
According to the Coastguard, their deployment will increase the rescue capabilities of the Channel-North Sea coastguard.
The money will be used to increase surveillance on French beaches and allow UK police officers to monitor French patrols.
French officers will increase in number, from 250 to 350 over the course of five months.
Partly due to a large increase in the number Albanians crossing the Channel this year (known as La Manche, France in France), the higher numbers of migrants crossing the Channel this year has been partially blamed.
This year, 12,000 Albanians arrived in the UK by small boats. In 2020, only 50 were.
