492 migrants came to UK in small boats on Saturday, Home Office says

Almost 500 migrants crossed the channel on Saturday, according to Home Office figures.

On 17 August, 492 migrants crossed in nine boats, taking the provisional total for the year so far to more than 18,300.

Earlier this week saw the largest number of crossings in a single day since the Labour Government took power, when 703 people were recorded as arriving in the UK last Sunday in 11 boats – suggesting an average of 64 people per boat.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.

"The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit."

One of the new Government’s first moves was to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme, which shadow home secretary James Cleverly says has benefited those capitalising on unsafe crossings.

He said: "When Labour ditched our deterrent they sent a dangerous signal to the people smugglers that they were not willing to take the tough action necessary to control our borders, and the smugglers are reaping the benefits.

"And over a month later they still have not appointed anyone to run their phantom border command.

"This new government must urgently take action to get a grip on these ever rising crossing numbers."

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