Since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister on July 4, over 10,000 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel into the UK, raising pressure on his government to address the escalating crisis. This figure, which stands at 10,024 arrivals in just 75 days, has already exceeded the total for Boris Johnson's first year in office. The Labour government has faced criticism for scrapping the previous Rwanda plan aimed at deterring crossings, with critics arguing that the current approach of 'smashing the gangs' has proven ineffective. In response to the ongoing situation, Starmer has sought inspiration from Italy's immigration strategies and appointed former police chief Martin Hewitt as the new Border Security Commander. Despite these measures, the total number of crossings this year is just 1% lower than the same time in 2023, and the Home Office has announced a £75 million investment to bolster border security efforts. The tragedy of recent deaths in the Channel has amplified calls for a more effective response to illegal migration.