Migrant crossings hit record high as refugees tell of increasingly brutal trafficking tactics

The number of migrants crossing to UK shores hit a new record this week, with refugees telling of the increasingly brutal tactics used by traffickers.

The Home Office has been accused of "losing control" after 235 migrants - including a heavily pregnant woman - made it across the dangerous English Channel waters on Thursday.

It was the second time in just over a week that a new single-day record has been set, after 202 people crossed to the UK on July 30.

More migrants are also believed to have tried to reach the UK on Friday amid calm winds in Dover in the early morning.

It comes as more than 2,000 people are said to have entered the country via these Channel crossings in June alone — more than four times the known total of 500 for the whole of 2018.

Growing numbers of unaccompanied children, usually teenagers, are reported to be among those trying to travel from France to the UK by sea.

Meanwhile, migrants have also spoken about the increasingly ruthless tactics of traffickers, including being forced into boats at gunpoint or knifepoint, in testimonies heard by the Guardian.

Refugees have even been threatened with having their fingernails ripped out if they do not follow the smugglers' orders, according to the publication.

The fine weather combined with the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a huge boom in the people-smuggling trade this summer.

There has now been speculation that the Home Office wants to draft the Royal Navy to patrol the busy shipping lanes if the high number of migrant crossings continues.

Human rights charity Detention Action has accused the Home Office of "fuelling chaos, criminality and untold trauma".

Immigration Minister Chris Philp said he shares "the anger and frustration of the public" at the "appalling number" of crossings.

Border Force vessels Seeker and Speedwell have been active in the Channel.

In one incident on Thursday, Border Force officers apprehended 15 migrants who had landed at Dungeness beach in Kent.

The Home Office has not yet provided a full breakdown of Thursday's crossings, and the total number could be higher still.

Detention Action director Bella Sankey said: "The Home Office has lost control and all credibility on this issue, fuelling chaos, criminality and untold trauma for those who feel forced to make these dangerous crossings.

"Trying to make this route 'unviable' through greater enforcement is naive grandstanding and amounts to more of the same.

"What is needed is recognition that people who reach France will have valid claims to protection in the UK and the urgent development of safe and legal routes for them to do so.

"This would end the crossings overnight and ensure we are standing by our age-old tradition of protecting those seeking sanctuary on our shores."

Her comments came amid speculation about a possible role for the Royal Navy in patrolling the Channel if migrant crossings continue at pace.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak today declined to deny reports that the Navy could be used to patrol the Channel for migrant crossings.

He told Sky News: "I think people are absolutely right to be frustrated at the scenes they're seeing. I'm frustrated, everyone is, which is why we've been working much more closely with the French government in recent time to improve our co-operation and intelligence-sharing to police crossings.

"The immigration minister will be visiting France again, I believe next week, to discuss how we can step up that co-operation and take further action, further measures and stronger measures as required to stop and reduce the tide of boats coming."

Asked about reports that the Navy will be used, he said: "I wouldn't want to speculate on exactly what measures will be put in place.

"It's important that we work closely with our French allies on this situation.

"Obviously France is a safe country for migrants to be. We all want to see these crossings reduced and, pending the outcomes of those conversations, we can decide on the best next steps to take."

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