Controversial legislation targeting 'small boat' crossings in the English Channel have come into effect this week.

Provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act, which received Royal Assent in April, mean anyone caught piloting a vessel carrying asylum seekers towards the Kent could face life in prison if found guilty.

The new laws have been described by the Home Office as "the biggest overhaul of the asylum system in decades", but faith leaders and campaigners have criticised the tough measures included in the Act.

These include increasing the maximum penalty for illegally entering the UK or overstaying a visa from six months to four years in prison, and new powers for immigration officers to search for people trying to enter the country.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "This is one of the most crucial milestones in delivering on our promise to the British public to take back control of our borders.

"While there is no single solution to the global migration crisis, these reforms which come into effect today play a vital role in overhauling the broken asylum system as we put our New Plan for Immigration into action.

"We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we offer protection and sanctuary to those in genuine need, but these new measures will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people-smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment as a result of this law coming into force."

Latest government figures show that more than 500 people crossed the Channel in small boats in the week to June 26.

Earlier this year, more than 1,000 faith leaders - including the Bishop of Dover - signed an open letter to the Prime Minister expressing their concern about the new legislation, which includes provision for asylum seekers to be processed overseas rather than here in the UK.

"While there is still conflict and injustice in the world, there will always be desperate people needing to seek sanctuary from war, persecution and suffering," they wrote.

"We cannot close our door on them, but this Bill does just that.

"We assert that the values that bind UK citizens together, especially those concerning human dignity and life, will be fundamentally damaged by this Bill."