Small boats containing more than 200 illegal migrants tried to cross the ... trends now
More than 200 people tried to cross the English Channel illegally at the weekend, new figures show - as ministers try to finally push ahead with Rwanda deportations.
The latest small boats surge comes as a controversial Government bill which could pave the way for flights to Rwanda returns to the Commons today.
A cabinet minister yesterday insisted the journeys could take off 'within weeks' but charities have vowed to launch new legal challenges to block them.
Official Home Office data shows there were 214 migrants 'detected' on five small boats crossing the Channel on Saturday, following four days with none after last Monday's 82 on two vessels.
The latest figures come after British-funded French police were seen standing by and watching as dozens of migrants sprinted across beaches to board small boats and cross the English Channel.
There has been a £500million investment from the UK government as part of a three-year contract with France, meant to help put a stop to dangerous crossings.
A boat of migrants was picked up by Border Force officials in the English Channel today - after it was revealed 214 people attempted the crossing over the weekend
Border Force staff are seen dealing with migrants coming ashore in Dover, Kent, on Saturday
This past weekend's activities saw the number of migrants crossing this year approach 6,000
The large injection of money is set to be used on vehicles and surveillance equipment, including drones, to help control the area.
Yet in footage captured by ITV, the newest UK-funded hardware was watched by unbothered French cops appearing to let migrants cross in front of them.
A large group - including children - was seen huddling as people crossed the beach before starting a sprint across the sands to reach a small boat.
As passengers piled on to a rubber dinghy, it became perilously overloaded - with a French officer estimating a total of 100 people on board before it departed France.
The UK Border Force then sent out a vessel to retrieve the individuals in the Channel, ahead of their arrival at Dover in Kent.
Home Secretary James Cleverly vowed in February that the UK and France would 'expand upon' co-operation he said had proved successful so far - citing figures showing a 36 per cent reduction in crossings last year.
But there were more than 2,000 migrants brought ashore last month alone, despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to 'stop the boats'.
And over 40,000 migrants have now attempted the dangerous channel crossing from England to France since Mr Sunak became Prime Minister, figures revealed.
The latest crossings take the provisional total number of UK arrivals so far this year to 5,731 - including a 2024 daily peak of 514 on March 20.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.
'We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys.
Border Force boats are on duty today across the Channel - official figures show there have been 5,731 migrant arrivals on small boats so far this year
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told the BBC Rwanda flights could happen 'within weeks'
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwanda's president Paul Kagame, seen meeting at Downing Street in London last week, have agreed a deal for deportation flights to the African country
'We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats.'
A scheme to send small boat arrivals to Rwanda - agreed with the country's president Paul Kagame - was not passed before Easter after peers inflicted a series of defeats and ministers did not try rushing it through ahead of recess.
The Safety of Rwanda Bill comes back before MPs as Parliament resumes today, with the Commons expected to undo the latest
