More than 700 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday

More than 700 migrants crossed the English Channel in 11 small boats yesterday, government figures show.

The figure is significantly higher than the 292 migrants who arrived on Sunday last week.

Home Office data shows 707 people were detected coming across yesterday – one of the highest daily figures this year.

Saturday’s figure follows three days where there were no crossings detected at all.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

“As we have seen with so many recent devastating tragedies in the Channel, the people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.

“We are making progress, bolstering our personnel numbers in the UK and abroad. Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.”

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