More than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel on Sunday, a record daily high

An average of about 53 migrants per boat were brought ashore by border officials and emergency services, the data showed. Photo: GARETH FULLER/PA < p>More than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel on Sunday, a new record daily high for the year, Home Office data shows.

Figures showed that people reached the UK on Sunday 534 people, which is the total number of migrants for this year. this year to 6,265 — a 28% increase on last year.

The number of Channel crossers this year is the highest on record, seven per cent higher than the total number of Channel crossings in 2022 (5828 people) at the same time.

The surge in crossings comes despite a £480m three-year period. The Anglo-French agreement reached by Rishi Sunak last year calls for doubling the number of officers patrolling French beaches to 800, creating a joint command center and a detention center to prevent migrants leaving France.

It coincides with Parliament resuming voting on the government's controversial Rwanda security bill on Monday when MPs return to the House of Commons.

Ministers expect the bill to be passed by parliament by the end of the week, and plan to launch the first flights to Rwanda this spring.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the rise in migrant numbers demonstrated why Parliament needed to pass legislation to provide a deterrent to stopping boats.

“This is an unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the English Channel. This demonstrates exactly why we must pass the bill and stop the flights as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.

About 10 boats were found on Sunday, suggesting an average of about 53 migrants per boat . brought ashore by border services and rescue services.

The increase in crossings reverses the trend of last year, when numbers fell 36 per cent from a record high of 45,774 in 2022 to 29,437.

Downing Street admitted the number of people crossing the border had increased, but said weather conditions coupled with increased violence by human smuggling gangs contributed to the rise.

«We know that criminal gangs will seek to exploit opportunities and weather conditions, and we also know that French police are facing increasing violence and disorder on the ground and on French beaches,» the spokesman said.

«We We need to continue to increase our efforts and adapt to gangs who are constantly adapting their tactics. But that's why, as well as continuing this work, we have to fundamentally break the business model, and that's what the partnership with Rwanda will do.”

The Government's Rwanda Bill is a key part of Mr Sunak's pledge to stop the boating — was delayed until after the Easter holidays after a series of heavy defeats inflicted on the government by the Lords.

MPs are expected to reject all seven amendments backed by peers before sending them back to the House. upper house on Tuesday.

Labour and negotiating colleagues are expected to seek to reinstate at least three or four amendments to force a second round of parliamentary ping-pong.