Ex-border chief delivers 'very easy solution' to solve migrant crisis in UK: 'I need them to listen!'

The Government faces criticism for publishing weather data to explain record Channel crossing numbers. The data, released today for the first time, is expected to show more "red days" - calm conditions favourable for crossings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper previously stated that the smuggling gangs' operations means "our border security ends up being dependent on the weather".

Smith told GB News: "There are loads of ways we could stop that easily, Martin, if we were allowed to.

"We've got satellite tracking technology at borders now. I'm here in Estonia, chairing a major conference on international border management.

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"I've got the Americans here, lots of countries here telling me they've got barriers, surveillance, floating barriers on the Rio Grande loads of stuff that could be done by experts in this field.

"But in order to do that, you've got to have political agreement, and that's my problem.

"I don't understand if we're really serious about doing this, then why don't we deploy these technologies and stop the boats before people even get in them?

"We could puncture the boats, capture the pilots, and finish it at a stroke. But that requires the political will of the French, and I'm really interested to know what's going on there."

The Prime Minister's spokesman responded: "As the Home Secretary has said before, we have to get to a position where the level of crossings is not reliant on the weather. That means breaking the hold that these criminal gangs have established over this trade."

Nearly 1,200 migrants crossed the Channel on Saturday alone, with 14,811 arrivals in the first five months of 2025 - the highest for this period since the crisis began in 2018.

Projections suggest up to 50,000 could arrive by year's end, which would set a new record.

Since Labour took office, over 38,000 migrants have reached British shores. The Government removed only 2,240 small boat arrivals in the past year - a three per cent drop.

Sir Keir Starmer addressed mounting public anger, stating: "You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. I'm angry too. We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people-smuggling gangs at source."

Defence Secretary John Healey has acknowledged that Britain has "lost control of its borders".