Newly-appointed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the first migrant returns will begin "imminently" under a deal with France.

The announcement comes Home Office figures showed small boat crossings in the Channel have passed 30,000 this year.

Some 1,097 migrants crossed the Channel in 17 boats on Saturday, bringing the total in 2025 so far to 30,100, Home Office figures show.

This is up 37 per cent on this point last year (22,028) and 37 per cent higher than at this stage in 2023 (21,918).

The new Home Secretary Ms Mahmood said: "These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders.

"Thanks to our deal with France, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France and I expect the first returns to take place imminently.

"Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system."

The new Home Secretary said the deal will start 'imminently'