More than 200 migrants crossed Channel in three boats on Monday

More than 200 people crossed the English Channel in three boats on Monday, according to Home Office figures.

On August 19, 206 migrants crossed in three boats, suggesting an average of nearly 69 people per boat.

The latest figures take the provisional total for the year so far to 19,294.

This is a 10% increase on the figure recorded last year, which was 17,620.

We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk

But the latest figure is 10% down on 2022, when 21,344 crossings were recorded in the same period.

The largest number of crossings in a single day since the Labour Government took power was on August 11, when 703 people were recorded as arriving in the UK 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.”

The Home Office is in the process of recruiting a Border Security Commander who will work with European partners to target the people-smuggling gangs behind the crossings.