Under a new agreement between France and Britain, increased patrols and technology will be deployed along France’s beaches to stop the illegal migration across the Channel, AFP reported.

The number of migrants trying to reach Britain has been growing across the dangerous and busy shipping lane in the past few months, with four deaths recorded in 2019 and seven deaths registered so far this year.

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The agreement will see French patrols doubled from December 1, with drones and radar used to detect those attempting to cross, Britain’s Home Secretary Priti Patel said Saturday.

Patel said that the new deal would help the two nations with their “shared mission to make channel crossings completely unviable”.

The matter has been a source of tension, with Britain accusing France of not putting efforts to stop the migration.

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In September, French authorities said they had intercepted more than 1,300 people trying to reach Britain, including a handful who had attempted to swim the 30-odd kilometres (18 miles) across the Channel.

Around 6,200 attempted the crossing between January 1 and the end of August, with inflatable boats, paddleboards, kayaks or even lifejackets to keep them afloat.

Northern France has long been a magnet for people seeking to smuggle themselves to Britain in small boats or in one of the thousands of trucks and cars that cross over daily on ferries and trains.