‘People’s lives are being put in danger’ by channel crossings, says minister

Security minister Damian Hinds, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme this morning that the crossings were “perilous journeys run, often, by sophisticated organised crime gangs”, adding that: “It’s a multinational operation, and we have to disrupt it and prevent these terrible risks being taken.”

Home secretary Priti Patel and her French counterpart yesterday agreed to end “100 per cent” of the  migrant crossings.

Hinds said cooperation with French authorities was welcome but that “we need to go further”.

The Home Office confirmed on Thursday that around 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK, a new record high.