Three more small boat crossings have been thwarted as dozens of people were caught attempting to reach British shores.

Border Force officers intercepted the vessels, which were carrying 56 suspected asylum seekers in all, yesterday in the English Channel.

This came after French authorities stopped two boats, each with 16 people on board, at sea and prevented 18 more individuals from leaving the country.

Speaking after the latest incidents, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Our asylum system is broken, and the new system I am introducing will be fairer and firmer.

“It will be compassionate towards those who need our help, welcoming people through safe and legal routes. But we will stop the exploitation of the broken system by those who come here illegally, asylum shop and make meritless claims to remain.

“We are accelerating our operational response to illegal migration and are making more immediate returns of those who come here through these crossings and break our rules.”

PA news agency, which tracks and analyses migrant crossings, last month reported that more than 6,100 migrants have successfully reached the UK in small boats this year.

Earlier this month, a leaked document also revealed that the government launched a secret consultation on building floating walls to block asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel.

This prompted Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to condemn the “inhuman” suggestions, before telling the Home Office to “get your house in order”.

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