A popular Greek island has witnessed a drastic drop in the number of asylum seekers arriving on its shores after deploying a new hardline stance on illegal immigrants.

According to the Hellenic coastguard, a total of 13 boats carrying 843 migrants made it to Crete between July 11 and July 25.

Since the new policy has been introduced, there have been zero arrivals.

Deputy Mayor Eleni Zervoudaki told The Sun: “Our new policy is for illegal people to be arrested and they are not allowed to apply for asylum”.

Zervoudaki conceded that she sees from a moral side how it might not be right, but understands Athens is searching for a way to stop illegal immigration.

On July 6, 2,000 migrants arrived on Crete shores, and the vast majority of boats came from Libya, sparking particular concerns for locals.

Crete, which attracts around five million British tourists a year, appears especially worried about what would happen if asylum seekers continued to attempt to reach the island.

Holidaymakers sunbathing on the Greek island of Crete | GETTY

There are an estimated two to three million migrants looking to leave Libya, mainly hoping to enter “Britain, Germany and France".

All of the migrants plan on passing through places such as Crete as it is “the door to Europe” for them.

On July 11, Greece's new Migration Minister, Thanos Plevris suspended all new asylum claims for people arriving from North Africa for at least three months. Anyone landing illegally would be arrested and could face up to five years in prison if they did not agree to be deported.

Zervoudaki believes the new policy has not only stopped thousands crossing from Libya, but will also damage the smugglers' business model.

Newly-arrived migrants line up inside a municipal hall in the town of Agyia, on the island of Crete, Greece

She added: “For the past two weeks there have been no boats. Before, they were landing once or twice a week."

It has been reported that unprecedented numbers have made the arduous, 100 nautical mile journey from Tobruk in Libya to Europe’s southern-most island, Crete.

Amid rumours the crossings were being organised by Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar as part of a “hybrid threat”.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government announced the start of their one-in, one-out deal with France on Tuesday.

Crete

French authorities take back a limited number of Channel migrants for each genuine refugee Greece accepts in return.

However, the arrangement has been branded a “farce” by its critics.

The deal is similar to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s hardline "stop the boats" message, which achieved instant results in 2013.

Abbott’s Operation Sovereign Borders policy intercepted small boats and passengers were returned to Asia or taken to overseas island detention centres.

Crete coast

The policy resulted in a 90 per cent reduction in arrivals by sea.

Meanwhile, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Migration & Asylum, Sevi Voloudaki, has been quoted saying: “Crete is not an open frontier. It was a necessary measure, taken in response to an exceptional situation, to safeguard national security and to protect the integrity of the asylum system from being exploited."

Commodore Dimitra Hasioti, from the Hellenic coastguard, also explained they have not had any boats arriving since July 25, which they believe has something to do with the change in the law.

Hasoiti argued: “It is possible that we witnessed the last irregular entrants landing on Crete two weeks ago."