THE French got worse at stopping the small boats in the first quarter of this year, figures show.
And the second week of this month was one of their most dismal performances yet, halting just 68 migrants.
The damning figures come as Home Office negotiators fly to Paris to renew a £500million migration security deal.
We revealed yesterday how Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had demanded “more bang for our buck” from her counterparts in France ahead of the 11th-hour negotiations.
But Sun analysis of Government data shows how authorities patrolling the beaches of Calais have had a far worse start to 2026 than 2025.
In the first 11 weeks of last year, 4,395 migrants arrived, while 3,227 were stopped — a ratio of 1.36 to one.
But this year, the ratio has surged to 1.85, with 3,457 arriving and just 1,865 stopped.
And the week to March 15 was one of the authorities’ worst yet, with 357 arriving and 68 stopped.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The blame for the increase should lie squarely at Shabana Mahmood’s door.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We do not recognise these calculations.
“France is our most important partner in tackling illegal migration.
“Our joint work is bearing down on crossings.
“Since this Government took office, 40,000 crossing attempts by migrants have been stopped and 60,000 illegal migrants with no right to be here have been removed or deported.”
