Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has robustly intervened in the English Channel migrants crossing “crisis” by decrying the venture as a “very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do”. The PM says the UK has to examine the “legal framework” for migrants crossing the English Channel.

Johnson’s intervention unfolds against the backdrop of increasing tensions with France, with British immigration and security officials accusing the French authorities of not doing enough to stem the flow of migrants.

For his part, the PM says he wants to “work with France” to stop the crossings by deterring migrants and smugglers alike.

Referencing the Brexit transition period (which ends on December 31), a Downing Street spokesman said: "We are currently bound by the Dublin Regulations for returns and they are inflexible and rigid - for example, there is a time limit placed on returns, it's something which can be abused by both migrants and their lawyers to frustrate the returns of those who have no right to be here”.

"At the end of this year we will no longer be bound by the EU's laws so can negotiate our own returns agreement", the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have stepped up efforts at surveilling and confronting the migrant boats.

The RAF has confirmed that its Atlas surveillance aircraft was supporting Border Force operations in the English Channel on Monday (August 10).