A total of 696 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats on Monday, the highest number on a single day so far this year, the Ministry of Defence said.
The cumulative number of crossings this year now stands at a provisional total of 17,095.
At the equivalent point in 2021, the cumulative total was just under 9,500.
Some 14 boats were detected on Monday, which suggests an average of around 50 people crossed the Channel per boat.
Channel migrant figures hit a yearly record on Monday
Gareth Fuller
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Ramsgate, Kent
Gareth Fuller
On Monday, GB News reported the record numbers after authorities intercepted the small boats over a 10-hour period.
At the entrance to Ramsgate Harbour, GB News’ Kent producer filmed as two Border Force vessels, the Catamarans Typhoon and Volunteer arrived together, to unload dozens of people.
This year’s previous record for the largest number of people arriving on small boats in a single day was reached on 14 April, when 562 people arrived.
For the past week, Border Force has been using Ramsgate as an alternative landing spot because of the traffic chaos around Dover.
Those taken to Ramsgate are being bussed to the nearby Ministry of Defence base at Manston.
It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel appears set to pay France tens of millions for more beach patrols and surveillance equipment.
She said: "Conservative MPs voted for these measures and are fully aware of the extensive international partnership work with many countries including France to tackle the many causes of illegal migration."
The cash was dubbed a "necessity" by the Home Office and the deal will be "driven by results".
The deal is likely to be one of Ms Patel’s last acts as Home Secretary.
It is expected she will lose her Cabinet role, regardless of whether it is Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak who takes over as Conservative Party leader.
