Channel migrant numbers overtake the entire 2023 total as more than 1,200 arrive this week

That took the total number of Channel migrants who have made illegal crossing this year to 29,451.

That figure compares to 29,437 small boat migrants who made the illegal journey from France over the whole of last year.

With more than two months to go until the end of 2024, maritime sources have told GB News the eventual figure for the entire year is likely to easily pass 35,000 but might be closer to 40,000 depending on weather conditions.

One source said: "We've seen more than 1,200 migrants cross in just the last four days.

"It only takes a few days of reasonably calm conditions in the Channel, and the numbers crossing quickly rack up.

"What we're seeing with criminal gangs these days is a determination to push these boats out in the kind of weather conditions they wouldn't have contemplated doing it in, even a year ago."

• Reform launches scathing attack on ‘arrogant’ Keir Starmer over definition of ‘working people’ - ‘Incredibly offensive!’
• Nazi-obsessed terrorist found guilty of attempted murder after stabbing migrant
• EU threatens to squeeze UK’s energy supply amid row over Brexit fishing deal

Although conditions in the Channel have still been choppy this week, Home Office official figures show that 149 crossed in three migrant boats on Tuesday.

The next day, 292 made the voyage in five small boats.

With slightly improved conditions on Thursday, 509 crossed from France in 11 boats.

And today already, more than 300 have arrived in UK waters.

This Channel's Kent producer counted 125 migrants, as they disembarked from the Border Force vessel Hurricane at Dover harbour just before 8am.

An hour later, 66 migrants arrived at the main migrant processing centre onboard the Border Force vessel Ranger.

Just half an hour after that, a further 51 migrants were taken to Dover by the Border Force vessel Defender.

They were followed this afternoon by around 100 others in two small boats.

The revelation that the total number of arrivals for the year has now surpassed the entire 2023 figure, is deeply uncomfortable for the new Labour Government.

Responding to the milestone, a Home Office spokesman told GB News: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”

Sir Keir Starmer promised to "smash the gangs" and end the small boats crisis, which has steadily grown in intensity since the first migrant boats began arriving in 2018.

Over the years, the people smuggling criminal networks have become increasingly more sophisticated, and have moved from a model of only pushing small boats out in the Summer months, to launching migrant boats all year round.

That has brought an increase in the number of lives lost in the English Channel.

Almost 50 have died in multiple incidents so far this year, the worst year for migrant deaths since the crisis began.

On Wednesday, a further three migrants died when their boat began sinking off the French coast, near Calais.

In response to those latest drownings, a Home Office spokesperson said: "This devastating tragedy is a further reminder that the people-smuggling gangs only care about the profits they make, not about the lives they put at risk.

"We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice."