Over 200,000 Small Boat Arrivals Since Crisis Began 8 Years Ago, with 70 Landing in Just One Day and Only 7,612 Deported

SMALL-boat migrant arrivals have hit 200,013 since the crisis began eight years ago – with 70 more landing yesterday alone.

The milestone – equal to the population of Norwich – comes as data reveals since 2018.

Another 800 migrants arrived last weekend, before 70 more came on Friday Credit: LNP Witnesses in Dover said Border Force vessels arrived on Monday and picked migrants up from dinghies Credit: PA

Political opponents said Labour has “no control of our borders” as the topic of continues to dominate.

Official figures showed the total stood at 199,943 before the latest arrivals were confirmed today.

A small boat potentially carrying the 200,000th dinghy migrant is thought to have pushed off from a beach in Braek, near the Belgian border, at around 7am on Friday.

Border Force vessels were seen bringing more migrants into Dover after picking them up from dinghies in the Channel.

Despite the soaring numbers, fewer than four per cent of those who have crossed since 2018 have been deported Credit: Stuart Brock Dinghies are now carrying higher numbers on average Credit: LNP Border Force saw in another 200 migrants on Monday Credit: Stuart Brock

And those arrivals are included in today’s figures — pushing the total past the 200,000 mark.

Earlier, six dinghies carrying 422 people arrived in a single day, averaging around 70 per boat.

Yet despite the soaring numbers, fewer than four per cent of those who have crossed since 2018 have been deported.

Shadow Home Secretary said: “Crossings are up 45 per cent since the election and Labour has no control of our borders.

“This is mayhem and tens of thousands of young, male illegal immigrants are flooding into the country every year.

“Some then go on to commit murder, rape and sexual assault — creating a crisis.

“We need to leave the European Convention on which will enable us to deport every illegal immigrant within a week of arrival.

“Then the crossings will soon stop. That is the Conservative plan, but Labour is too weak to do it.”

Reform home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf also slammed the “feeble” Labour Government.

He said: “This isn’t migration, it’s an invasion enabled by the weak, feeble leadership of successive Conservative and Labour governments.

“Only has the courage to shut this down and deport those breaking into this country illegally.”

His party has also pledged to open migrant detention centres if it wins power at the next .

Reform UK is drawing up plans to build centres for at least 24,000 individuals as part of their “Vote Green, get illegals” approach.

The plan was branded a “disgusting idea” by the Greens, while critics dismissed it as unworkable.

The small-boat crisis began in 2018 after a crackdown on migrants entering the UK by lorry.

Since then, crossings have surged, with the vast majority of arrivals going on to claim asylum.

Last year, 41,472 migrants arrived, while 2,550 were deported or returned.

Figures show just 7,612 people out of the 200,000 who have crossed since 2018 have been removed.

Sir Keir’s one-in-one-out deal with has seen 498 people sent back to Paris and 482 brought to the UK through legal routes.

Tragedy has continued to stalk the crossings, with data showing hundreds have died attempting the crossing since the crisis began.

A woman and a teenage girl died attempting the journey after a boat carrying 82 people ran aground off northern France.

There are fears they were crushed in the chaos, while separate incidents have seen others drown trying to board vessels.

Dinghies are also carrying more people than before, while smugglers have shifted launch points further north, including in .

The Government has signed a £662million deal with France in a bid to boost patrols and crack down on gangs.

It includes drones, helicopters and extra policing on beaches.

A spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings.

“The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars.

“This builds on joint work that has stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the Channel since the election.

“We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.”