Migrants cross Channel in stolen French fishing boat

The boat was escorted by French maritime vessels before being handed over to UK Border Force officials.

The migrants were transferred to Border Force catamaran Volunteer and brought to Dover.

So far this year nearly 1,400 migrants have made the journey by small boat to the UK across the English Channel.

The latest figures constitute a 13 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.

A total of 29,437 people arrived on British shores in small boats in 2023.

That was a big drop from the 2022 total of 45,755, which was the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.

• Migrant warns small boat crossers ‘do not come to England’ after finding ‘nothing here’
  
• ‘Enough is enough – It’s time to stop this abuse of our generosity’
  
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Rishi Sunak is facing pressure to deal with the Channel crossing crisis after pledging to stop the boats upon entering Downing Street.

However, a number of legal challenges have posed problems for the Prime Minister.

Sunak has admitted there is no firm date for him to stop the boats making the perilous 21-mile journey.

He told MPs last month: “We will keep going until we do [stop the boats].”

The Prime Minister was handed a boost just a few weeks ago after his Safety of Rwanda Bill passed after a failed Tory rebellion.

The Bill, which aims to stop legal challenges against ministers' plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, was approved by 320 votes to 276 votes.

Just 11 Conservative MPs voted against the measures, including ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Jenrick tabled amendments to ignore parts of human rights law and ensure ministers automatically reject last-minute interim orders from the European Court of Human Rights.