More than 13,000 people have crossed English Channel in small boats since Rwanda scheme was announced by Priti Patel, new figures show

More than 13,000 people have crossed the Channel since the Rwanda deportation scheme was announced, new figures show.

No one has been sent to the central African country since the policy was announced on 13 April by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Since 14 April, 13,016 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats - with five vessels totalling 176 people making the journey last Sunday alone, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The total number of people to have crossed this year now stands at 18,284.

Some 28,526 crossed in small boats in 2021; 8,466 in 2020; 1,843 in 2019 and 199 in 2018.

On Monday, photographs showed another group of migrants - wearing life jackets and face masks - being brought into Dover by Border Force officials.

A number of children and babies were among those moved from the vessel on to a waiting bus.

According to analysis by the PA news agency, 1,885 people have been brought to the UK so far in August - more than half of the 3,053 people rescued in August last year.

Both candidates to be the next prime minister have committed to continuing the policy.

The singular flight scheduled to take people from the UK to Rwanda was halted at the 11th hour following a legal challenge.

The government has not ruled out leaving Europe's human rights framework after the last-ditch legal rulings.

People smugglers in Iraq have told Sky News that they are following what happens - and that some people may be discouraged from making the journey due to the policy.

"People were scared of going to Britain and being deported to Rwanda, but I think this decision is halted for now so migration started again," one smuggler said.

"If the Rwanda policy is applied though, I think people will back out from travelling to Britain and go to Europe instead. They would not go to Britain."

Rwanda accused of 'recruiting refugees' into armed forces

The scheme was worth £120m when it was announced.

Court documents have revealed that Ms Patel was advised against enacting the scheme by officials, including the UK's High Commissioner to Rwanda.

In February 2021, they raised the fact the country "has been accused of recruiting refugees to conduct armed operations in neighbouring countries".

In April, Ms Patel hailed the Rwanda deal as a "world-class" plan that provided a "blueprint" for other countries to follow.

"The UK asylum system is collapsing under a combination of real humanitarian crises and evil people smugglers profiteering by exploiting the system for their own gains," she said.

"This has devastating consequences for the countless men, women and children who have tragically lost their lives or loved ones on perilous journeys.

"A global leadership is required to find new innovative solutions to this growing problem."

The week the deal was announced was the busiest of the year for crossings, with 2,076 people travelling across the Channel.