A fierce dispute broke out on GB News when Robert Bates of the Centre for Migration Control clashed with political analyst Fahima Mahomed over immigration figures and whether Channel crossings constitute criminal activity.

The confrontation intensified when Mr Bates insisted that individuals arriving via small boats were breaking the law. "They are criminals. They are coming into our country illegally," he declared during the broadcast.

Ms Mahomed strongly contested this characterisation, responding: "You are just assuming they are criminals." She maintained that many crossing the Channel were legitimate asylum seekers rather than economic migrants.

The exchange highlighted deep divisions over how to interpret migration data and whether unauthorised entry automatically renders someone a criminal, with neither participant willing to concede ground on their fundamental positions.

Mr Bates clashed with Ms Mahomed

Mr Bates argued that official statistics were being ignored by those opposing stricter immigration controls. "Fahima is refusing to acknowledge actual Government data," he stated, emphasising that males were disproportionately represented amongst arrivals.

He drew connections between immigration patterns and safety concerns, asserting: "Men are vastly overrepresented and there are too many people on the Left refusing to acknowledge the very real link between migration as a whole and the small boats crisis and the uptick in the threats being posed to women and girls in this country."

The migration expert expressed frustration at what he perceived as denial of evidence. "I really don't see why people would dispute this. This is surely something we should be recognising and looking to adjust from accordingly," Mr Bates said, describing the situation as "an unnerving state of affairs."

Ms Mahomed challenged the interpretation of migration statistics, drawing on her professional experience. "I have no political ideology and I am an academic. I work within the Ministry of Justice and I know how statistics can be manipulated," she stated.

Martin Daubney was forced to step in as tensions boiled over

She argued that the data presented failed to provide a comprehensive view of the situation. "It's not giving the complete picture. I believe it's horrific that anyone from any background has any sort of criminal activity but the way it's been contextualised here is showing everyone is coming here to behave that way," Mahomed explained.

The commentator emphasised the legitimacy of many asylum applications, insisting: "They are not just economic migrants. They are genuine claimants." Her position directly contradicted Bates' assertion that unauthorised entry constituted criminal behaviour.

Mr Bates dismissed Ms Mahomed's defence as "ridiculous" and raised concerns about identification procedures for new arrivals.

He claimed that many individuals dispose of their documentation before reaching British shores, creating significant verification challenges.

Small boat arrivals | Home Office

"We know absolutely nothing about these individuals. We have a real crisis on our hands here," Bates stated, highlighting systemic problems with processing procedures.

He cited an admission from immigration authorities about inadequate screening standards. "The asylum applications being done, and the Home Office admit this, 50 per cent are not being done to a satisfactory level," he revealed.

The migration expert attributed these failures to resource constraints, explaining: "That's because we don't have the staffing and time."

His comments suggested fundamental flaws in the system's capacity to properly assess those seeking entry to Britain.

The debate occurred against a backdrop of escalating Channel crossings, with authorities intercepting a vessel carrying 106 people on Wednesday. A Government spokesperson described the craft as a "grossly overcrowded soft-bottomed taxi boat" that miraculously endured over 15 hours at sea.

Wednesday's interceptions brought 325 individuals across the Channel, pushing this year's total to 27,799. The figure represents part of more than 51,000 detections since Labour assumed power in July 2024.

The 106-person vessel marked a new milestone, surpassing the previous single-boat record of 96 individuals. Officials warned that such overloading demonstrated smuggling networks' complete indifference to passenger safety, referencing an April 2024 tragedy where 112 people aboard one boat resulted in five deaths, including a seven-year-old child.