A total of 279 migrants crossed the Channel in nine boats yesterday, a day after a record was set for this year.
People smugglers have taken advantage of the warmer spring weather and better maritime conditions to restart the crossings.
On Tuesday 400 people made the journey, a daily high since January. A further 538 people in 11 boats were intercepted by French officials before reaching UK waters, meaning almost 1,000 tried to cross. Yesterday the French stopped 25 people from crossing.
Among those to arrive on Tuesday were several children, including a baby, who were brought to shore by an RNLI lifeboat at Dungeness, Kent.
The total number of crossings so far this year is 2,923, double the number that arrived in the same period last year. Last year there were 28,526 crossings. This month 1,160 people have reached the UK in 37 boats.
The National Crime Agency has warned the maritime industry to be aware of crime groups trying to obtain small boats for smugglers.
After the supply of small vessels in northern France and Belgium was cut by the authorities, a rise in purchases from Britain was reported. Retailers are asked to report unusual purchases of untreated plywood boards, tarpaulin sheets and duct tape as these can be used to reinforce and modify boats.
The agency believes people smugglers are using more unseaworthy boats. Andrea Wilson, the agency deputy director, said: “Criminals don’t care about safety, they see people as a commodity to be exploited. Appeals like this are an important part of our activity to disrupt these gangs, and go hand in hand with law enforcement.”
Lesley Robinson, chief executive of British Marine, said: “As a trade association, safety is at the heart of what we do and I am confident that our members will continue to take the lead in this area by reporting suspicious activity.”
Tom Pursglove, minister for justice and tackling illegal migration, admitted that the number of people crossing the Channel was unacceptable but said the Nationality and Borders Bill would introduce measures to deter crossings.
He said: “We’re cracking down on people smugglers and fixing the broken system by making it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introducing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.”
