More than 700 migrants feared to have crossed the Channel in single day

More than 700 migrants are feared to have crossed the Channel today as smugglers continued to wreak havoc. At least 670 asylum seekers have already arrived in Dover, and another small boat is being monitored in the Channel, it is understood.

It comes just days after 656 were detected crossing in small boats. Today's arrivals will take the total this year to almost 9,000.

One senior maritime security source told GB News: "This is an absolute disaster for Labour's border security policies. We've been shown a number of successes recently, in terms of the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies making numerous arrests of suspected people smugglers.

"But the fact is, we're not seeing the gangs smashed, we're seeing all previous records for migrant crossings being smashed."

Home Office figures revealed 656 asylum seekers were detected on 11 boats, on Saturday heaping more pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's "smash the gangs" plan.

The French Government's position on Channel crossings has shifted significantly over the past few months, following years of claims of inaction.

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau admitted sending migrants back across the Channel could end the small boats crisis. Mr Retailleau said returning asylum seekers to France would "send a clear message" that could act as a deterrent to those considering risking their lives.

French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted Britain must strike a returns deal with the EU - something the Government has so far refused to do.

Mr Retailleau said: "I do think that there must be an agreement that we can come to, a bilateral agreement between governments. Because we see many of those who land on British soil don't come back. Even when one has crossed the Channel, if one is sent back that will send a clear message."

French police could start intercepting Channel migrant boats at the end of May, Home Office insiders believe. Sources believe this will begin when a new specialist policing unit trained in tackling public disorder starts patrolling the coastline.

Mr Retailleau added: "We have to deal with the crossings. Up until now, we considered it to be a French doctrine that we would save people on the seas - but that we would take no risk whatsoever.

"So we would accompany the people on the boats. I've seen a number of videos where the taxi boats come close to the coast to pick up the migrants in water that's not very deep, and I think that our gendarmes cannot intervene. We need to change that doctrine of intervention."