Dozens of migrants try to reach the UK (Image: Getty)
Labour is blaming the weather for a record number of Channel crossings as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper to end the crisis.
Home Secretary Ms Cooper said the UK’s border security is currently "dependent on the weather". Officials believe there have been far more “red days” – when crossings are considered likely because conditions are calmer – than in previous years. This has allowed smugglers that have “taken a deep hold along the English Channel" to launch more boats packed with dozens of asylum seekers. More than 6,600 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, up 31% on last year.
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More than 6,600 migrants have crossed this year (Image: Getty)
The Home Secretary said: “March had much higher levels and the really unacceptable situation that we’re in is because of the way the criminal gangs have taken hold, our border security ends up being dependent on the weather and we cannot continue like this, where the number of calm days affects the number of crossings and affects our border security.
“We’ve seen higher numbers in March, lower numbers in January and February, and that’s reflected in the number of calm days.
“We cannot carry on with border security being so dependent on the number of calm days that happen in the Channel.
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“But the reason that is happening is because the criminal gangs still have a deep hold. So, the action that we are taking to address this is much stronger action with France, including new measures that will take place in the course of this year.
“France has agreed now to take action and to intervene in French waters. They’ve never done that before, that is a big and important change.
“The previous government tried to implement that. This is something that we have managed to achieve as a result of our close working with France.”
The criminal gangs are believed to make hundreds of millions of pounds every year.
Ms Cooper and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will use a two-day organised immigration crime summit to push for more international co-operation on tackling supply routes, criminal finances and online adverts for dangerous journeys.
More than 40 countries are expected to attend, including the US, Vietnam, France and Iraq. Representatives from social media giants X, Meta and TikTok are also expected to attend.
Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is expected to say: “This vile trade exploits the cracks between our institutions, pits nations against one another and profits from our inability at the political level to come together.
“When I was the Director of Public Prosecutions, we worked across borders throughout Europe and beyond to foil numerous plots, saving thousands of lives in the process. We prevented planes from being blown up over the Atlantic and brought the perpetrators to justice.
“I believe we should treat Organised Immigration Crime in the same way.
“I simply do not believe Organised Immigration Crime cannot be tackled. We’ve got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people smuggling routes.”
Ms Cooper has said employers need to "take action that prevents the illegal working in the first place".
Ms Cooper, said: “Smuggler and trafficking gangs make their money crossing borders so law enforcement needs to work together across borders to bring them down. Only a coordinated international response, across the whole irregular migration route, can effectively dismantle these networks.
“The Organised Immigration Crime Summit is the first of its kind and will reinforce the UK’s position as a leader by securing international commitments to disrupt Organised Immigration Crime at every stage of the business model.
“The summit demonstrates mine and the Prime Minister’s absolute dedication to disrupting the callous Organised Criminal Gangs, strengthening our borders and ultimately save countless lives.”
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Keir Starmer is under intense pressure to stop the migrant crisis (Image: Getty)
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Officials last night confirmed a ￡33million funding boost to secure more prosecutions along the smuggling routes to the French coast.
British prosecutors will be expected to forge closer ties with allies to lock up more migrant smugglers across the continent.
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “We welcome Labour copying and pasting the work that the last Conservative government on those working illegally, but the Home Secretary has her head stuck in the sand about the extent of the challenge on illegal immigration.
“Crossings are up 31% since the election with 2025 the worst year on record. This is the clear impact of cancelling the deterrent and Labour's open-door policy to illegal migration, the crisis requires clear deliverable action.
“That is why, under new leadership, the Conservatives have set out tough plans to crack down on illegal migration, including plans to deport all foreign criminals and repeal the Human Rights Act for immigration matters. If Labour was serious about protecting Britain they would back these measures - but instead Labour voted against them.”
The organised crime gangs are raking in hundreds of millions every year, insiders believe.
Government officials say the Organised Immigration Crime summit will be an opportunity to expand “the follow the money strategy globally”.
Migrants and smugglers use an ancient payment system known as “Hawala”.
This sees a third party pay a ‘handler’ in the migrants’ home country. This money is then held until the migrant arrives safely at their destination.
The smuggler can collect his money from another handler in the country where he is operating. No physical money is ever transferred under this system.
But it effectively means criminals can move their profits across continents almost as quickly as regular bank transfers – without the scrutiny.
And the National Crime Agency believes “hawaladars” – the name given to the middlemen operating the system” – move “hundreds of millions” connected to smuggling migrants every year.
Government insiders believe forging stronger international partnerships to seize more cash will deter more gangs from immigration crime.
Hawaladars are also being warned they are effectively helping criminals responsible for dozens of deaths every year, it is understood.
Officials will use the summit to urge the Chinese delegation to prevent flimsy inflatables leaving factories in the Communist country from reaching Turkey and then Europe.
The NCA has previously revealed how they have opened talks with Beijing about the Channel migrant trade.
And the Chinese decision to send a delegation to London is considered a welcome boost.
Investigators believe that as they make it harder for criminals to buy cheap boats and engines from China, the organised networks will turn to placing bulk orders with legitimate companies.
The price of a boat and engine is now as high as ￡14,000 each, up from the “low thousands”.
But smugglers charge between ￡1,500 and ￡6,000, highlighting the vast profits smugglers make every year.
Officials have said some hoteliers in Northern France, hauliers, freight couriers and people promoting routes on social media are operating in a “grey area”, where they are effectively helping smugglers and organised crime gangs without actually committing a criminal offence.
And law enforcement wants these people to tip them off when they fear something is wrong, for example, requests for groups of people to hide in a garage, hotel or hostel.
The Express has reported how migrants are being offered luggage services and discounted hotel rooms before crossing the English Channel.
There is also evidence of asylum seekers being kept in Belgium, in safe houses near Brussels, Antwerp, Gent and Bruges.
Migrants are also known to regularly stay in Germany, with homes identified in Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Essen, Dusseldorf, Bochum and Dortmund.
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They are given key pieces of information for their journeys and structures are put in place to ensure the smuggling business continues to run smoothly between crossings.
More than 6,600 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, heaping pressure on ministers to do more to stop the boats.
Channel arrivals are up 31 per cent since Labour came to power last summer, compared with the same period from 2023 to 2024 — despite the party’s election pledge to smash the criminal smuggling gangs.