Two new specialist French police units have been deployed to Northern France as part of a significant new agreement between the UK and France, designed to intensify efforts against illegal migration and dangerous small boat crossings. The units, known as the Compagnie de Marche and a newly established riot unit (Compagnie républicaine de sécurité - CRS), are now operational, focusing on disrupting people smuggling operations and preventing migrants from reaching UK shores.
This enhanced law enforcement presence, comprising 125 specialist officers and reservists, is a direct outcome of the landmark UK-France deal. Their primary roles include dispersing groups of migrants, pursuing criminal smugglers, and preventing the launch of small boats. The deployment is strategically timed for the summer months, a period often associated with higher numbers of attempted crossings, and is supported by advanced surveillance systems, including drones, helicopters, planes, and cameras.
The Compagnie de Marche, a unit of 75 officers, will focus on breaking up launch attempts and seizing equipment. This elite policing unit possesses public order powers, enabling more dynamic patrols and direct intervention against any violence encountered on French beaches. The CRS unit, consisting of 50 officers, is specifically trained in riot and crowd control tactics, making them better equipped to respond to hostile crowds and evolving smuggler strategies.
The deployment aligns with broader international efforts to combat organised immigration crime across Europe. A recent international investigation, involving the UK's National Crime Agency, German Federal Police, and led by the French National Police's people smuggling unit, successfully seized dozens of boats and engines in Germany. These vessels were estimated to be capable of transporting over 2,000 individuals illegally to the UK, highlighting the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the necessity of working closely with international partners to address the shared challenge of illegal migration. He stated that these elite units represent a crucial step in the UK-France collaboration, building on operations that significantly reduced attempted crossings last month. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the pressure is being applied directly on French beaches to target criminal gangs and stop launches before they can occur.
The agreement also follows a surge in joint law enforcement operations in May, which reportedly halted almost half (40%) of all small boat crossing attempts from Northern France. This builds on a reported 44,000 small boat crossing attempts prevented since the election, according to government figures. The deployment of these specialist units forms a key part of the broader strategy outlined in the comprehensive deal signed by the Home Secretary and her French counterpart to tackle the ongoing small boat crisis.