Home Secretary Priti Patel will introduce life sentences for anyone caught helping smuggle people across the Channel.

The maximum sentence will be increased from the current 14 years under new legislation due to be brought forward within the next few weeks.

The news comes amid reports today that a French warship helped escort a boat carrying ten people across the Channel to Dover at the weekend.

The Sun reported the boat, one of several that arrived in Dover across the weekend, was later rescued by a Border Force vessel after it ran out of fuel.

Yesterday former Ukip leader Nigel Farage was also involved in a public row with the Home Office after tweeting claims that one boat contained 12 people who had all tested positive for Covid.

The Home Office denied the claims, which were shared on social media almost 40,000 times, insisting only one person had tested positive.

The Home Secretary is reportedly concerned that penalties being handed down for people-smuggling are too short, The Times reports today.

The current average sentence for 'assisting immigration' is three years.

A Home Office spokesman said: "While criminal gangs continue to put lives at risk, it is right we consider every option to stop their exploitation of people.

"The Government will set out further details in the coming weeks."

Latest figures show 500 people have arrived in Britain from France since the start of 2021, double the number in the same period last year.

The Home Office spokesman added: "People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making these dangerous crossings."

Read more: All the latest news from Dover