Mark White has cautioned that the Government's new migrant returns programme will involve "very modest" numbers, whilst warning of impending legal battles that could significantly delay the scheme.

Speaking about the UK-France agreement that commenced on Wednesday, White suggested ministers were deliberately avoiding disclosure of specific figures to prevent people smugglers from calculating their chances of avoiding deportation.

The detention procedure involves a formal 14-day consultation period with French authorities before any removals can proceed.

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Speaking on GB News after the fIrst migrants were detained, The Home and Security Editor said: "I think the reason the Government is being coy on the issue of the numbers they’re sending or intend to send back to France is because it’s very modest indeed.

"And actually, by being coy, by not giving us a running commentary on what the numbers are at the moment, that can work to their advantage, they feel in that the people smugglers will then not know how many of those coming across the Channel are being detained with a view to returning them to France.

"But that can only last so long, because if Cooper has promised to give us regular updates on the figures and how it’s working and there is the potential for appeals.

"I think those human rights lawyers, the activist groups, will be banging on the doors of immigration removal centres as we speak, trying to represent those who have been detained. They will put in legal challenges there is no doubt about it.

"Cooper believes that because France is a safe country, any legal challenge can be swiftly dealt with. But how swiftly is still an unknown factor.

"We’ve seen Government pledges to quickly deal with challenges in the past that have dragged on for many months, sometimes years.

"As I say, what we are embarked on at the moment is a process where the French are being notified that the first of those migrants have been detained prior to removal. They’ve got 14 days in which to respond.

"If they have any particular issues with any one of those migrants, they can object to that and the Government will have to think again."

"After those 14 days and we could get the challenges in during that period they will have to be dealt with through the court system. And as we know with the court system, that can take an awfully long time."

The Home Office confirmed that Wednesday's arrivals were transported to immigration removal centres where they will remain throughout this process.

Images from Dover showed individuals in life jackets being escorted from Border Force vessels, marking the scheme's first operational day.

GB NEWS | A screengrab of migrants departing France in a small boat

Any legal challenges arising during the notification period must be resolved through the courts before deportations can commence.

The Prime Minister took to social media to announce the detentions, declaring: "We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France. No gimmicks, just results."

He added: "If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it."