Downing Street has defended it plan to stop small boat crossings after more than 1,100 migrants travelled across the Channel in the first four days of March.
Some 1,168 people have made the perilous journey from France to the UK already this month, Home Office data showed on Wednesday.
It brings the total number of arrivals for the year so far to 3,224 and takes the number of crossings since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister to almost 26,000.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
"We are delivering real change in our approach through legislation to create new tools, powers, offences and enforcement action which will keep us one step ahead of the people-smuggling gangs."
Small boat arrivals hit a daily high over the weekend as 592 cross the water on March 2. It was the largest number of arrivals on a single day so far in 2025.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted this week it would take time to bring down the number of migrants attempting to come to Britain in small boats.
“We inherited a system in chaos, and we've all said that there are no quick fixes to curb the global problem of illegal migration,” he said on Monday.
“But we put in place a serious and credible plan. Set up this new Border Security Command. We've ramped up removals.
“We've given law enforcement greater powers than ever to take down these [people smuggling] gangs.
“You've seen with our collaboration across borders with other agencies, significant arrests and disruption of people smuggling gangs across Europe in recent weeks and months.
“You've seen us returning 19,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals, ramping up the level of illegal working arrests and visits and we will remain focused on taking all the action needed.”
Before Sunday the previous daily high for arrivals this year was 260, which was recorded on January 13. As weather conditions improve, arrivals are expected to continue to increase.
Earlier this year the Government announced new powers designed to “turbocharge efforts to smash the gangs” smuggling migrants across the Channel.
Investigators will have the power to seize the mobile phones of suspected people traffickers and it will become an offence to endanger lives at sea under new laws designed to crack down on small boat crossings.
People selling and handling parts of vessels being used to bring people across the Channel could face up to 14 years in prison under the measures announced by Home Office Yvette Cooper.
