France: French officers intercept small boat in Channel under UK-France deal.

RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "UK HOME OFFICE" HANDOUT — EDITORIAL USE ONLY — SHOTLIST: FRANCE (AUG. 21, 2026) (UK HOME OFFICE - RESTRICTED) 1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF FRENCH OFFICERS INTERCEPTING SMALL BOAT BEFORE IT REACHES ENGLISH CHANNELFRANCE - AUG. 21 - RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT "UK HOME OFFICE" HANDOUT - EDITORIAL USE ONLY: New footage released by the UK Home Office on Friday, Aug. 21, shows French officers intercepting a small boat before it could reach the English Channel. According to authorities, the intervention was among 185 small-boat crossing attempts stopped by French police under a new UK-France agreement, which prevented 61% of crossing attempts during its first three months. The UK and France signed a new deal in April to strengthen efforts to combat irregular migration in northern France and prevent crossings to Britain, backed by a significant increase in dedicated personnel, technology and intelligence resources. As of Aug. 10, more than 14,800 people had reached the UK by small boat this year, according to provisional Home Office data cited by the BBC, representing a 43% year-on-year drop and a 16% decline compared with the same period in 2024.