French police have been photographed standing by as a small boat carrying migrants set off across the Channel.
Around a dozen officers, some with riot shields and batons, were seen at the water’s edge at Gravelines, Normandy. The beach is a popular launching point for migrants, who often hide in sand dunes before attempting the crossing.
Migrants had previously told The Telegraph they would travel to the UK “as soon as possible” following Labour’s election victory.
Figures showed that 484 migrants have reached the UK since Sir Keir Starmer was elected with a landslide 172-seat majority and scrapped Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation scheme on day one of his Government.
Home Office figures showed 419 people made the journey in six boats on Tuesday, suggesting an average of around 70 per boat and taking the provisional total for the year to date to 14,058.
This is 10 per cent higher than the number recorded this time last year – 12,772 – and up six per cent on the same period in 2022, when the figure stood at 13,318, according to government data.
Reacting to the figures, Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, said scrapping the Rwanda policy without a plan was “sheer stupidity”. He added: “‘Smash the gangs?’ Sir Keir has surrendered to the people smugglers.”
It comes as Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, announced the establishment of a new border security command. Work to recruit its leader is under way, with the Government preparing a Bill to create counter-terror powers aimed at tackling organised immigration crime.
The Home Office says the command leader – expected to be appointed within weeks – would draw together the work of intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.
Ms Cooper said Labour would “tackle the root of the problem” by targeting the criminal smuggling gangs “making millions out of small boat crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk”.
Speaking in Washington, where he is attending the Nato summit, Sir Keir said: “This a command that will lead on smashing the gangs. I do not accept these are the only gangs that can’t be brought down.”
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