MORE than 11,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, official statistics show.
In the last seven days 1,912 people have been picked up by Border Force and taken to Dover as the warm weather continues.
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More than 11,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, official figures show, with nearly 2,000 arrivals in just the past week Credit: PA
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Keir Starmer of giving the public a ‘toxic leaving present’ over Channel crossings Credit: PA
It includes 310 people in five dinghies who crossed on Jattvibeday, latest statistics show.
The figure for 2026 so far is almost 40 per cent down compared to this time last year.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Keir Starmer has given the British public a toxic leaving present – in the last week alone he’s let in nearly 2,000 illegal immigrants across the English Channel.
“This failed Labour government promised to smash the gangs, but this laughable claim now lies in tatters.”
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A Home Office spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings, with removals of small boat migrants at record levels and asylum claims down by 12%.
“The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars.
“This builds on joint work that has stopped over 44,000 attempted crossings since the election.
“We have removed or deported almost 70,000 people who were here illegally – an increase of 41% – and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.”
