More than 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour won the General Election

Over 10,000 migrants have made their way to the UK via the Channel since Labour's victory in the general election. According to Home Office data, on Monday alone, 65 migrants journeyed across in two boats, pushing the provisional total for this year to 23,598.

This influx means that since Sir Keir Starmer took office as Prime Minister on July 4, there have been 10,024 recorded arrivals. The total for 2024 so far is 1% less than at this point last year (23,940) and a 21% decrease compared to the same period in 2022 (29,783).

These figures emerge following tragic deaths in the Channel over the weekend and as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a £75 million investment to increase border security officers in a bid to clamp down on people smuggling. This funding, redirected from the abandoned Rwanda deportation plan, will also cover hidden cameras and improved monitoring technology as part of the new Border Security Command led by a former police chief.

The aim is to expedite investigations and boost the chances of successful prosecutions. Earlier this year, it was also revealed that an additional 100 specialist investigators would be assigned to the National Crime Agency (NCA) to help curb Channel crossings.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Rome, the Prime Minister expressed his keen interest in Italy's efforts to reduce irregular immigration.

The UK Government is keen to delve into the "dramatic reductions" in migrant crossings from the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, as part of its crackdown on the criminal networks behind people smuggling.

However, Dame Angela Eagle, the border and security minister, has clarified that discussions with the Italian Prime Minister are not a blanket approval of Italy's immigration stance. Speaking to Sky News, she said: "But we are meeting a G7 country and a fellow Nato member to see how we can co-operate across border to deal with some of these vile people smuggling gangs."

Eagle also hinted at the possibility of the UK adopting a similar approach to Italy's proposal to process asylum seekers in Albania, but remains cautious. "Firstly we don't know whether it will work yet, because it hasn't started. Much of this has been portrayed currently as if it's already a success but the fact is that it hasn't started."

She further elaborated on Times Radio: "We will see how it works. But what we have said is that any scheme that we deal with for offshore processing or anything else has to be workable, it has to be cost-effective, and it also has to be in line with international law,".

This comes as the Channel saw further tragedy with the latest fatalities occurring when over 1,000 attempted the perilous crossing just last weekend.

Tragedy struck off the French coast when a vessel carrying 53 migrants collided with rocks overnight on Saturday into Sunday near Ambleteuse in the Pas-de-Calais region, according to the French coastguard.

Most of the group were rescued, with six individuals including a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia taken to hospital, but tragically eight men lost their lives.

Over 200 people were saved from the Channel in a single 24-hour period from Friday to Saturday, as reported by the French coastguard.

This heartbreaking incident comes less than a fortnight after another boat was torn apart during its journey across the Channel, resulting in the death of 12 people including a pregnant woman and six children.

Downing Street has stated that the Government is addressing the issue of these crossings "on all fronts" and that "immediate work has been taking place".

This includes "beginning to process asylum cases again where individuals have been residing in hotels without their cases being examined" and the return of 3,000 migrants over the summer, added a spokeswoman.