A SUSPECTED people smuggler was spotted using a stick to herd migrants as more small boats made the perilous journey across the Channel this morning.
Shocking pictures showed the man appearing to shepherd the group as they frantically waded into the water in Gravelines, France – evading French cops once again.
GettyGroups of migrants frantically waded into the water to be collected by the boats[/caption]
GettyTraffickers tried to manage the scene using canes[/caption]
GettyThe shocking scenes unfolded in Gravelines, France, this morning[/caption]
The boat set sail packed to the brim with young menGetty Images – Getty
The masked organisers then barked instructions and shoved passengers – who had been waiting on the beach – into the rafts.
Although some appeared to be families and children, most were young men.
They were seen pushing onto the packed boats as French authorities were nowhere in sight.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “smash the gangs” and reduce the number of crossings, but figures released today have laid bare the shocking extent of Britain’s small boat crisis.
More than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far this year, with 440 tallied yesterday alone.
The crisis is now 50% higher than at this stage last year and 79% higher than in 2023.
Some 19,982 migrants had arrived in the UK after making the dangerous crossing by the end of June, the highest total ever for the first half of the year.
Another 879 migrants arrived on Monday, as migrants were spotted celebrating and snapping selfies.
It was the third biggest daily total so far this year, with smugglers exploiting the heatwave.
The worst day so far this year saw 1,195 arrivals, while the all-time daily record remains 1,305, set in September 2022.
In response, Downing Street has urged voters to be patient, insisting “it’s not simple” to smash the criminal gangs driving the surge and warning “it’s going to take time.”
Asked about the record numbers, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said the figures were “clearly unacceptable”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Record numbers of young undocumented males have crossed this year thanks to French beaches being the world’s most expensive sieve — this is a disaster for the country.
“They are costing us money, making us less safe, and they bring a terrorist threat.
“This will only get worse under the weakest Prime Minister I have ever seen.”
Critics added £500million of taxpayer cash given to France had only turned its beaches into “the world’s most expensive sieve”.
Patrols with jeeps, quad bikes and drones were pictured on the sand earlier this week as smugglers prepared to launch more dinghies.
Officers on the beaches have repeatedly refused to get their feet wet, claiming it is dangerous and legally complex.
It was widely reported last month that French police are stopping a record low number of migrants from crossing, intercepting fewer than 40 per cent of people.
The Tories blasted Labour for tearing up their Rwanda deportation plan and replacing it with “fantasy”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “One year into Labour’s government and the boats haven’t stopped – they’ve multiplied.
“This is the worst year on record, and it’s become a free-for-all.
ReutersDozens of men piled onboard[/caption]
The majority of people boarding the boat were young mengetty
Migrants waited on the beach for the small boats to collect themgetty
AFPHelpless French cops watch on from 4x4s as the small boats sail off[/caption]
“We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe.
“The crossings will then rapidly stop.”
Last month, French police were pictured finally getting into the sea to try to stop migrants getting onto a dinghy.
Riot officers dramatically threatened migrants with batons and pepper sprayed them in waist-high water during shocking scenes at Gravelines beach.
But 15 minutes later, riot cops were called back out of the sea and watched on as the same group of migrants boarded the waiting dinghy.
It led to accusations that officers just wanted to “put on a show” after being exposed in the press, while continuing to fail to stop any dinghies.
GettyThe Prime Minister has accepted the figures are ‘unacceptable’[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
