New analysis has suggested small boat migrants are 24 times more likely to go to prison than the average British citizen.

The rate of foreign citizens in jail when compared to the overall migrant population in the UK is 0.18 per cent, slightly higher than the average for Britons at 0.14 per cent.

The analysis by the Tories suggests the rate is much higher for the nationalities who make up the largest small boat arrivals, reports The Times.

The most common countries include Somalians, Afghans, Iraqis, Albanians and Iranians.

A group of migrants get on an inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel

A group of migrants walk through the water to reach an inflatable dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel

The figure is based on Census data on of the the 10,838 foreign criminals in prisons in England and Wales at the end of March.

This is defined as those living in the UK who, according to the latest census in 2021, hold a foreign passport and do not have a British passport. Prisoners with dual British nationality are not classified as foreign criminals by the Ministry of Justice.