Over 1,000 migrants came to the UK by small boats this weekend, the Home Office has just revealed.
On Saturday a whopping 801 arrived in 14 boats, a figure close to being a record high for this year.
The following day, another 292 arrived on Britain’s shores in six small boats.
This means a total of 1,093 came to the UK this weekend alone, as the Government grapples to meet its promise of tackling the small boat crisis.
The figures were published just hours after the Home Office revealed it had finally recruited a chief for its new Border Security Command, saying it marks a “significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs”.
Martin Hewitt CBE QPM was given the tough job, with the Prime Minister hailing his “unique expertise” as a former head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The Government is praying that Mr Hewitt’s 30 years’ experience in tackling serious crime will help him bring together policing, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and government bodies to bring down the number of illegal crossings.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper voiced “delight” that she’d finally found someone to fill the vacancy.
In July the Government were dealt a blow after their preferred candidate turned out the offer.
Neil Basu, former head of the UK’s counterterrorism unit, confirmed he had declined the offer.
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly has since questioned why the Government is bothering to set up the body to begin with, given a very similar team already exists.
He queried: “Has the Small Boats Operational Command been disbanded? Has General Capps been made redundant? Will the SBOC staff be fired and rehired? What is the difference between the two organisations’ functions? Or is this just a gimmick?”
The Prime Minister is in Italy today for meetings with premier Giorgia Meloni, in the hope of coming up with a continental response to the small boat crisis.
Sir Keir said he is “interested” in learning about Italy’s scheme to send migrants for processing in Albania, despite scrapping the UK’s world-leading Rwanda policy.
Sir Keir said: “I’ve long believed that prevention and stopping people travelling in the first place is one of the best ways to deal with this particular issue.”
Italy has seen a 64% drop in irregular migration over the past year, as those crossing from north Africa to the south of Europe reduce.
As well as over 1,000 crossing into Britain this weekend, there were tragic scenes as eight perished trying to make the journey.
They drowned after their inflatable dinghy “tore apart on the rocks” off the cost of France, a regional official said.
Some 51 survivors were rescued, including six taken to hospital.
