France, Sept. 2 -- Successive British governments have struggled to curb the rise in small boat crossings, which have become an increasingly contentious issue among voters since they began to increase sharply around 2018.

The number of boats making the journey from France to the United Kingdom during June, July and August - months that usually see a surge in crossings because of calmer weather - fell to a seven-year low, according to the British interior ministry.

A total of 7,371 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats over the three summer months, according to an AFP tally of official figures - the lowest number since 2020.

"We will be relentless in targeting the criminal gangs behind these crossings, and we will continue to remo...