More than 1,300 migrants have crossed the English Channel illegally over the past five days, GB News can reveal.
The shocking surge in migrant arrivals follows a break in the storms that have gripped the English Channel for most of the last two months.
GB News can reveal, today at least 180 migrants have made it to UK waters.
Yesterday, 326 arrived in six small boats - just one day after 182 made the crossing.
More than 1,300 migrants have crossed the English Channel illegally over the past five days, GB News can reveal (stock image)
Getty
On Sunday, the biggest March arrival on record was recorded when 592 made the voyage in 11 small boats.
The latest arrivals cast fresh doubt on the Government's "smash the gangs" policy, some eight months after Labour came to power.
Sir Keir Starmer has channelled millions of additional funding into the Government's new Border Security Command, along with extra resources for the National Crime Agency.
While there have been multiple arrests of suspected people smugglers in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, there has been no slow down in the numbers of migrants crossing the Channel.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The total of more than 3,400 arrivals since January 1 is close to 20 per cent up on the 2,990 who arrived at the same point last year.
The 2024 total of 36,816 was 25 per cent up on the year before.
A maritime security source told GB News: "It's as clear as the nose on your face, this policy of smashing the gangs just isn't working.
"We've had eight months of a Labour government now, with a reported uptick in law enforcement activity, but we have not seen any kind of reduction in crossings.
A total of 240 migrants successfully crossed the Channel in February
GB NEWS"Just the opposite, the only thing controlling numbers in the Channel is the weather. If it wasn't for the storms of late, we'd be looking at even higher numbers."
A Home Office spokesperson said: “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.”
