Only 12 civil servants are employed on a full-time basis to manage Labour’s “one in, one out” migrant scheme with France, the border security commander has disclosed to parliamentary members.

Martin Hewitt faced scrutiny from Karen Bradley, who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, regarding whether this staffing level was sufficient.

Bradley drew attention to the previous Conservative administration’s allocation of 1,000 Home Office personnel to their Rwanda deportation programme.

The comparison highlighted concerns about resource allocation for the current scheme, which involves returning Channel migrants to France whilst accepting legitimate asylum seekers from French territory.

Mr Hewitt explained that the core team of twelve coordinates a broader operation involving personnel at Dover and Manston facilities in Kent, where arrivals from Channel crossings are processed.

Additional staff members engaged in immigration enforcement, visa processing, and passport operations also contribute to “actually making the system work,” he told MPs.

The Rwanda programme’s extensive staffing resulted in few outcomes before Labour scrapped it upon taking office in 2024.

Despite the thousand-strong workforce dedicated to that scheme, it managed to secure merely four voluntary departures, highlighting questions about resource efficiency in immigration initiatives.

The programme has yielded modest results since its July launch, with 26 individuals who crossed the Channel being returned to France.

Under the reciprocal arrangement, 18 asylum seekers with legitimate claims have been transferred from France to Britain.

These figures emerge against a backdrop of escalating Channel crossings, with more than 36,000 people making the journey this year.

This represents an increase exceeding 30 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2024 and matches the record levels seen in 2022.

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Mr Hewitt characterised the initiative as a “pilot” that remains “very, very new” when pressed about deterrent effectiveness.

He also expressed frustration about France’s postponement of enhanced enforcement measures in coastal waters, which would enable authorities to prevent dinghies from departing French shores.

He said “it is frustrating that it’s taken the time that it has,” explaining that French officials were navigating legal procedures to ensure officer safety during water operations.

The delay affects Britain’s efforts to combat increasingly sophisticated smuggling operations, including taxi boats ferrying migrants to larger vessels at sea.

One dinghy transported a record 125 individuals this month.

Criminal networks have reduced crossing fees after losing control when migrants, particularly from Eritrea and Ethiopia, began forcing their way onto boats without payment.

A number of small boats carrying migrants have crossed the English Channel overnight.

Several more vessels appeared to be making the dangerous journey on Saturday morning, with calm weather in the Channel creating the possibility of further crossings.

More than 36,000 people have made the journey so far this year, around a third higher than at the same point in 2024.

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