France has been ordered to act "swiftly" as frustrations grow in Britain with the lack of French action in stopping migrant boats leaving shallow waters.
Police across the Channel claim to be powerless to stop migrants after a certain point due to a legal loophole that prevents officers from intervening offshore.
Under current French guidelines, officers can stop boats leaving the beach by puncturing them but are not allowed to wade out unless migrants call for help.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was "disgraceful and unacceptable" to see 1,194 migrants cross the Channel on Saturday, with French authorities only preventing 184 migrants.
Some 259 boats have made their way to the UK so far this year, with France only preventing 38 per cent of them.
Yvette Cooper has said 'stronger action' is needed to stop the small boats
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Cooper said she had been in touch with the French interior minister, insisting he take "stronger action" to stop small boats crossing.
She said: "The gangs are increasingly operating a model where boats are launched from further along the coast and people climb in from the water, exploiting French rules that have stopped their police taking any action in the sea.
"This is completely unacceptable. The previous Government raised this with France for years, but to no avail, and I have raised it with the French Government since the summer.
"The French interior minister and the French cabinet have now agreed that their rules need to change.
"A French maritime review is looking at what new operational tactics they will use, and we are urging France to complete this review and implement the changes as swiftly as possible."