France is plotting a bid to ask for more British cash (Image: Getty)
France is plotting to ask Britain for more money to patrol their beaches and prevent Channel migrant crossings, the Daily Express understands.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has told Home Secretary Yvette Cooper almost one in three illegal arrivals in Europe are attempting to reach Britain.
Mr Retailleau wants more money to go towards a new police station in Calais and to fund more patrols along the French coast.
He told Ms Cooper the situation in Calais and Dunkirk is “worsening”.
Bruno Retailleau wants Britain to pay more (Image: Getty)
But Paris is also mooting the idea of a “compensation fund” to pay for damage caused by migrants hoping to reach Britain.
And French sources refused to deny claims Mr Retailleau wants the UK to hand over more cash.
The number of police and gendarmes on the coast is set to increase this winter by 175, bringing the total to 800.
Home Office sources have suggested no requests have been made yet – either formally or informally.
But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “It’s shocking that Labour are giving a handout to the French police when police forces have raised concerns about a cut to the police funding settlement. Labour should be giving our police the funding they need to keep us safe.
“I call on the French authorities to intercept small boats at sea near the coast and return them, as the Belgians safely do.
“This has cut illegal migration through Belgium by over 90% and it has been done safely.
“If the French adopted the same tactic they could end these dangerous crossings that have led to over 50 deaths in recent months.”
Britain last year agreed to pay France more than £500m to bolster law enforcement operations to stop small boats from leaving France.
In total, 35,040 migrants have risked their lives in small boats this year.
But since the General Election, 21,446 migrants have crossed the English Channel.
Under Labour, an average of 128 migrants a day have crossed the Channel in a staggering 377 boats.
This means each boat detected by Border Force was carrying an average of 57 people.
An average of 74 per day arrived in the 184 days before the General Election.
Mr Retailleau said of the demands for more British cash: “It is not right that individuals and businesses should have to finance repairs.”
The French interior ministry said of a meeting in London: “He had the opportunity to talk to his British counterpart about the necessary increase in cooperation amid the worsening situation along the coast.
“The Interior Minister shared with his British counterpart his strong belief that the issue of combating migrant trafficking requires a strengthened bilateral and European response, given that this migration route accounts for 30% of illegal arrivals on European soil.”
Small boat smugglers are said to be offering “Christmas special” deals for migrants wanting to illegally cross from France to the UK.
One smuggler, who calls himself Salar, advertises his services on an open Telegram group and refers to the dangerous crossing attempts he organises as “the game”.
He said: “To go to England, I have 15-person ‘games’ for Christmas.
“From the 25th until the 29th, there will be special offers as the weather is also good – God willing, you will be in England before the new year.”
Salar began promoting the Christmas crossings on December 17 via his Telegram channel, posting screenshots of wind forecasts and added: “Hello my dear friends. Boat game. Dates 25, 26, 27; there are no waves at all. Wishing you all the best.”