People smugglers condemned as ‘stupidly dangerous’ as 9 migrant boats launched in treacherous weather

The latest arrivals take the number who have crossed into UK waters this year, to almost 5,400 - Compared to 3,793 at the this point last year.

However, the good weather conditions yesterday deteriorated overnight, with strengthening winds churning up waves in the middle of the Channel.

One maritime expert told GB News that the people smuggling gangs were clearly "risking lives by taking the stupidly dangerous decision" to launch boats into worsening conditions.

​"We've seen all too often in recent months just how vulnerable these flimsy dinghies are," he said.

"Lives have been lost in the middle of the Channel. These small boats just can't cope with anything other than light winds.

"Once we get up to moderate winds out there, it really churns up the waves, and doesn't take much at all to inundate and capsize these overcrowded boats."

At least five migrants drowned when their small boat got into difficulties near Boulogne in January, while a seven-year-old girl drowned in a separate small boat tragedy earlier this month.

Among the hundreds making the dangerous crossing in bad weather this Easter Sunday were at least 10 migrant children.

Today's arrivals take the total number of migrants who have arrived by small boat so far this year to more than 5,200.

The number is a third higher than the 3,793 who had crossed the Channel by the end of March last year.

Just before 8am on Sunday, the Border Force vessel Hurricane arrived in Dover harbour, with those taken off two small boats.

A GB News team on the ground counted 93 migrants, including 10 children, as they were led away to the nearby migrant processing centre.

As weather conditions deteriorated in the Channel, the Coastguard called out a number of lifeboats to assist with the transfer of migrants from other boats.

Lifeboats, from Dover, Ramsgate and Dungeness were all called out to assist.

The Ramsgate lifeboat transferred 28 people to Dover Harbour.

Another 37 were taken off the Dover lifeboat, and 55 people arrived at Dover harbour on the Border Force vessel Ranger.

Just before midday, another Border Force vessel Defender transferred 45 migrants to Dover Harbour.

Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister, Stephen Kinnock criticised the Government's small boats strategy, which he said had "been left in tatters."

"We can also see from these figures that there is a major tragedy waiting to happen in the Channel.

"Poor-quality, overcrowded dinghies are putting to sea and getting into trouble early in their journeys, while the smuggling gangs responsible are left to count their profits."

Mr Kinnock said Labour would strengthen border security and "crush the smuggling gangs."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the English Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.

"We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats."