Over 1,000 Migrants Cross English Channel in Single Day Record

The UK is facing a record surge in small boat migrant crossings from France, with more than 1,000 people arriving in a single day, the highest daily total so far this year. British and French border patrol vessels along with lifeboats have been overwhelmed, leading to calls for fishing boats to assist in rescue operations. The UK government has invested over £480 million in efforts to curb crossings, including payments to France, but critics argue that French police have failed to stop the departures, with some officers reportedly watching migrants board boats without intervening. The surge has intensified calls for better cooperation and rule changes to enable French maritime forces to intervene earlier in the water. Opposition figures have condemned the current government's handling of border control as a failure, citing stretched Border Force resources and scrapped deterrent policies. The government emphasizes its commitment to dismantling smuggling gangs and strengthening border security through international cooperation and tougher legislation.