Dangerous Channel crossings reach highest daily total in 2023 so far

12 June 2023 , 17:51

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The PM has repeatedly vowed to 'stop the boats' (Image: Getty Images)

Over 600 people made the dangerous Channel crossing in small boats yesterday - the highest number on any given day this year.

According to official Home Office figures, some 616 people seeking asylum were detected on Sunday, passing this year's previous high of 497 in April.

The number of crossings in 2023 now stands at a provisional total of 8,313 - compared with around 10,000 at the same point last year.

Rishi Sunak first vowed to "stop the boats" six months ago and has made tackling the Channel crossings a priority for the Government, repeating the pledge dozens of times.

And just last week on a visit to Dover, the Prime Minister claimed the Government's approach "is working" as he announced two mega-barges to house asylum seekers.

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In Dover last week the PM said the Government's approach is 'working' (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Tory leader has also declined to specify when he expects small boat arrivals to stop completely.

Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said the Prime Minister "needs to stop the boast and start stopping the boats''.

He added: "With the weather improving and the number of crossings increasing, Rishi Sunak needs to roll up his sleeves and start doing the hard graft, rather than ploughing on with the headline-chasing, government-by-gimmick approach which landed him in this mess in the first place.

"Labour has a comprehensive five-point plan to defeat the criminal smuggler gangs, end the dangerous crossings, clear the growing asylum backlog and fix an asylum system broken by the Conservatives."

But a Downing Street spokesman said the numbers "fluctuate on any given day", adding that when Mr Sunak referred recently to crossings having fallen 20%, he was talking about "a five-month average reduction" rather than a snapshot figure.

"We do know that the number of crossings fluctuates; equally we know that, on average, the enhanced work with our French counterparts means that you are now more likely to be intercepted and stopped if you attempt to make a crossing than succeed in crossing the Channel," the spokesman added.

"There is a great deal of work going on which is stopping these criminal gangs in their tracks.

"But, clearly, crossings are continuing and that is because we have not been able to put in place our full plans; and obviously there is a great deal of work across Government to that end."

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Ian Jones