More than 500 people crossed the Channel to reach the UK on Friday, pushing small boat arrivals to record levels for this time of year. The surge comes as ministers face mounting pressure over their pledge to tackle people-smuggling operations.
A total of 517 people arrived in eight boats on Friday, bringing the annual total to 21,117 - a 56% increase compared to the same point last year, according to analysis by PA. The milestone represents the fastest accumulation of Channel crossings since records began in 2018.
Record-breaking crossings continue
On Tuesday, the tally surpassed 20,000 for the first time so early in the calendar year. Ministers have struggled to deliver on their promise to "smash the gangs" of people-smugglers who organise the dangerous journeys across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
The latest arrivals follow reports that French police officers used knives to puncture a boat off the French coast on Friday. The Government has repeatedly urged French authorities to take stronger action to prevent boats from leaving French shores.
French intervention tactics
Existing rules currently prevent French police from intervening once dinghies enter the water. The Government has pushed for changes to these regulations, though the new measures have not yet taken effect.
However, Friday's reports suggest tougher enforcement action may already be underway on the French side of the Channel. The incident highlights the increasingly desperate measures being considered to stem the flow of crossings.
Crackdown on illegal working
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (Labour) has announced a "crackdown" on immigration enforcement targeting illegal working in the gig economy. Officers will conduct checks in hotspots across the country where they suspect asylum seekers are working as delivery riders without permission.
The move follows commitments from Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to strengthen facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months. The companies made the pledge after discussions with ministers about preventing unauthorised workers from using their platforms.
Government's enforcement strategy
Cooper said illegal working "undermines honest business and undercuts local wages" and warned that the British public would not tolerate it. She highlighted how people-smuggling gangs often deceive migrants about their prospects in the UK.
"Often those travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by the people-smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in this country," Cooper explained. "In reality they end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours."
The Home Secretary described the enforcement action as targeting a "pull factor" that encourages Channel crossings. The Government has also returned 30,000 people with no right to remain in the UK and is tightening immigration law through its plan for change.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
