Nearly 700 migrants crossed the English Channel on Monday in 2022 in a record-breaking Britain

Nearly 700 migrants and asylum seekers crossed the Channel to Britain in a single day this week, a new record for the year, the British government said on Tuesday.

The latest arrivals suggest that the government’s controversial policy of deporting those attempting the dangerous crossing to Rwanda has so far failed to deter them.

The Defense Ministry said 696 migrants arrived on 14 small boats on Monday, the highest daily number in 2022 and only surpassed 600 for the second time this year.

Large groups of people, including young children, were reportedly taken ashore at Ramsgate on the Kent coast in south-east England before being bussed to processing centres.

According to the government, more than 17,000 people have arrived in Britain in 2022 after crossing the English Channel – one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world – in small boats.

More than 28,500 – most of them young men – arrived on the British coast last year. The all-time daily record of 853 was set in November 2021.

The number of crossings fluctuates throughout the year depending on weather conditions and enforcement actions along the north French coast.

To deter arrivals, the UK unveiled a new policy earlier this year to send those crossing the border to Rwanda for processing and permanent resettlement.

However, the first flight, which was due to take off in mid-June, has been grounded due to legal issues and politics remain stalled.

Britain has sent France tens of millions of euros a year to help stop boat crossings, including for extra beach patrols and equipment like night vision goggles.

The Times reported this week that Home Secretary Priti Patel is set to announce the latest finance deal with Paris, despite questions about the deal’s value for money.

It has drawn repeated criticism from some ruling Conservative MPs, with a senior lawmaker telling the newspaper Patel “throws more good money after bad”.

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the two Conservative rivals running to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have both vowed to stick to Rwanda’s policy.