Before this weekend, 2024 had already seen a record high in crossings(Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
More than 5000 migrants have made the journey across the English channel this year, with 800 crossing this Easter bank holiday weekend.
791 people made the journey from Saturday, March 30 to Sunday, March 31, according to Home Office figures.
The previous record high figure for January to March was 4,548, with 3,793 arriving in the first four months of last year.
In one of his five pledges, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said he had planned to ‘stop the boats’ ahead of an expected general election later this year.
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: ‘The Tories have overseen an unprecedented level of dangerous Channel crossings this Easter Bank Holiday.
‘Over the Christmas break, they were quick to claim credit for the low number of crossings, so where are the Home Secretary and Prime Minister now, when we’ve seen almost 800 people arrive in small boats over the bank holiday weekend?
‘This is complete chaos. It’s time the Tories got a grip and adopted Labour’s plan of going after the criminal smuggling gangs, with a new cross-border police unit, and set up a new returns and enforcement unit to remove those who have no right to be here.’
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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