UK says 616 migrants crossed Channel on Sunday, highest daily total in 2023

British authorities detected 616 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats on June 11, the British government said on Monday, the highest number in a single day so far this year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping boat arrivals one of his top five priorities after the number of migrants arriving on the south coast of England soared to a record level in 2022 of more than 45,000, up 500% in the last two years.

He has been criticised by some members of his own Conservative Party and the public for not moving quickly enough to crack down on irregular migration, but last week said the plan was working with crossings down 20% compared to last year.