Small boat migrants top 10,000 this year – despite Rishi Sunak hailing fall in crossings

SMALL boat migrants have now topped 10,000 this year - despite Rishi Sunak hailing a fall in crossings.

A staggering 2,375 people have made the dangerous journey across the Channel in a week in 46 boats.

It means the numbers are nearly where they were last year, when 10,000 had crossed the Channel by June 2, 2022.

The PM insisted earlier this month crossings were down a fifth on the same period last year - but critics blamed a wet spring and windy weather.

This week's heatwave has seen a sharp rise in crossings again as more gangs try to take advantage of the calmer weather to get across.

Nigel Farage raged: "Rishi Sunak is not stopping the boats, not a chance."

And Labour's Yvette Cooper blasted: “These figures show the dismal failure of all the Prime Minister's boasts of progress on small boats, and follow a week of damning official reports on the surging backlog, spiralling hotel costs and failing border security.

"Rishi Sunak’s small boats plan is disintegrating before the public’s eyes, and he has no idea of how to turn it around."

It comes as a group of refugee charities today urge ministers not to detain under 18s - saying it could put them at risk of PTSD or suicide.

A coalition of leading medical organisations has warned the Government to think again on the new laws in the small boats bill, which is currently going through the House of Lords.