Thread by @BorisJohnson

Tonight I have written to President Macron offering to move further and faster to prevent Channel crossings and avoid a repeat of yesterday’s appalling tragedy which claimed the lives of at least 27 people.

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I pay tribute to the emergency services who have been dealing with this devastating situation.

Following our conversation last night I know President Macron recognises, as I do, the urgency of the situation we are both facing.

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I have set out five steps we should take as soon as possible:

- Joint patrols to prevent more boats from leaving French beaches.

- Deploying more advanced technology, like sensors and radar.

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- Reciprocal maritime patrols in each other’s territorial waters and airborne surveillance.

- Deepening the work of our Joint Intelligence Cell, with better real-time intelligence-sharing to deliver more arrests and prosecutions on both sides of the Channel.

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- Immediate work on a bilateral returns agreement with France, alongside talks to establish a UK-EU returns agreement.

An agreement with France to take back migrants who cross the Channel through this dangerous route would have an immediate and significant impact.

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If those who reach this country were swiftly returned the incentive for people to put their lives in the hands of traffickers would be significantly reduced.

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This would be the single biggest step we could take together to reduce the draw to Northern France and break the business model of criminal gangs.

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I am confident that by taking these steps and building on our existing cooperation we can address illegal migration and prevent more families from experiencing the devastating loss we saw yesterday.

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