Calls for more cooperation with French as migrant crossings reach 'crisis' point
Video report by ITV News Meridian's John Ryall
There are calls for more cooperation between UK and French authorities as ITV News Meridian captured footage of boatloads of migrants heading to Dover on Thursday (6 Aug).
One dinghy, designed for four people, was packed with migrants - some not wearing life jackets but holding inflatables.
One man was so desperate, that he threw himself into the water and attempted to reach the boat the ITV crew were filming from.
The former Immigration Minister and MP for Ashford, Damian Green, says we have to do more to work with France if the trade in people smuggling is to be halted.
The former head of Border Force, Tony Smith, says the scenes on Thursday represent a "crisis".
Meanwhile, Labour say the Government needs to "get a grip", but the Government says that French authorities need to do more.
So far this year more than 3,700 migrants are known to have reached the UK in 280 boats.
A new daily record of 202 migrants in 20 boats was set on July 30.
Smugglers were charging migrants up to £10,000 per person per crossing, but as the trade has become more competitive, a passage on a boat from Calais can now cost £4,000.
The current weather is providing near-perfect conditions at sea, making the 20 mile crossing desirable for people-smuggling gangs.
With just seven weeks of summer left, it is going to be a busy time for the Coastguard, Border Force and the RNLI.