Britain and France signed a new agreement aimed at stopping illegal migration across the Channel on Saturday, upping patrols and technology in the hope of closing off a dangerous route used by migrants to try to reach the UK on small boats.

UK Interior Minister Priti Patel and her French counterpart Gérald Darmanin were reported to say that they wanted to make the route used by more than 8,000 people this year unviable.

Patel said that under the deal, the number of officers patrolling a 150-kilometer stretch of coastline would double, and new equipment including drones, radar and cameras would be employed.

This year, hundreds of people, including some children, have been caught crossing to southern England from makeshift camps in northern France – navigating one of the world's busiest shipping routes in overloaded rubber dinghies. Some migrants have drowned.

There are nearly 300 border-related deaths in and around the English Channel since 1999, according to a recent report.

"Thanks to more police patrols on French beaches and enhanced intelligence sharing between our security and law enforcement agencies, we are already seeing fewer migrants leaving French beaches," she said.

The UK and France plan to continue a close dialogue to reduce migratory pressures at the shared border over the next year, she added.

Patel said that French authorities had stopped 5,000 migrants from travelling to the UK so far this year. She said over the last ten years, the UK had given France 150 million pounds ($200 billion) to tackle immigration.

She said the recent focus by authorities on stopping small boats meant they were now seeing more migrants trying to cross the Channel via lorries, and that border security was being tightened in France to try to stop that.

Britain is also planning to introduce a new asylum system through legislation next year, Patel said.

(With input from agencies)