The UK has reached a £662 million agreement with France to support efforts aimed at preventing illegal small boat crossings across the English Channel. This funding will help deploy a new team of 45 French police officers to coastal areas, where they will specifically target the launch of large, overcrowded vessels known as "mega dinghies." This addition will bring the total number of French officers working on this task to nearly 1,050. The agreement was announced as French President Emmanuel Macron met with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London. Recent data shows that the number of small boat crossings to the UK has dropped by 23% compared to the same period last year, a trend that also appears across Europe. According to the UK Home Office, French police teams funded by the UK have already prevented 185 crossings between 27 April and 2 August. The funding is spread over three years, with around £160 million allocated for new strategies, such as targeting "taxi boats" used to transport migrants from offshore. This portion of the funding depends on the success of the French operation. Although fewer people are arriving in the UK via small boats, those who do are often crammed into increasingly larger and more dangerous vessels. In July, a record 230 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in a single boat, which was described by French rescuers as "buckling" under the weight. This surpassed the previous record of 165 people who crossed successfully in July. To address this trend, the new team of 45 officers will focus on stopping these large vessels from launching. Additionally, a specialist French intelligence and judicial unit will be expanded from 18 to 30 officers, targeting the criminal networks behind the smuggling operations. Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of the UK and France working together, noting the progress made this summer. However, he warned that smuggling gangs are constantly evolving their methods and that both countries must remain vigilant. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the efforts are "bearing fruit," with increased police numbers helping to crack down on both the boat launches and the criminal organizations responsible. The focus remains on preventing dangerous crossings and disrupting the illegal migration trade.