BRITAIN is now matching Italy’s migrant crisis – without being on Africa’s doorstep.
More than 62,200 migrants attempted to cross the Channel between January and November this year, according to EU border agency Frontex.
That is virtually the same as the 63,200 migrants who were detected reaching Italy from North Africa over the same period.
Italy has long been Europe’s frontline, facing waves of boats from Libya and Tunisia.
Yet the figures released this month show the UK is now dealing with a Mediterranean-scale problem on its own shores.
Frontex also revealed that across the EU as a whole, illegal migration has fallen by 25 per cent.
Crossings on key European routes have collapsed, including sharp drops from West Africa and the Balkans.
But the Channel has bucked the trend completely, with attempts to reach Britain by small boat not falling at all compared with last year.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This is shameful. We are now seeing as many crossings of the Channel as there are over the central Mediterranean. Labour has lost control of our borders.
“Keir Starmer’s gimmicks – like his claim to smash the gangs – have all failed.
“It was a terrible mistake to scrap the Rwanda deterrent with no replacement, and channel crossings have surged since the election as a result. ”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of small boat crossings is too high, and this Government is taking action.
“We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”
The Labour government is stepping up its efforts to tackle small boat crossings.
Earlier this week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood imposed the Donald Trump-style curbs on the Democratic Republic of Congo after it refused to co-operate with her border crackdown.
Its VIP politicians have been stripped of their preferential treatment and will have to apply for visas like everyone else.
And fast-track visa processing has been revoked for all the country’s nationals.
Ms Mahmood will axe DRC visas completely if it does not start co-operating.
Neighbouring Angola and Namibia have agreed to take back their illegal migrants and foreign criminals after she threatened them with the visa bans.
More than 40,000 people have crossed the Channel so far in 2025.
