Migrants picked up by British authorities in the Channel

The British government vowed Friday to strengthen border measures after a record daily number of people crossed the English Channel to the U.K. in small boats.

A dinghy carrying migrants across the Channel was intercepted and detained by the UK Border Force on Friday, a day after at least 235 migrants in 17 boats landed or were picked up by British Coast Guard and Border Force boats, surpassing last week's record of 202 arrivals in one day.

Migrants have long used northern France as a launching point to reach Britain, either in trucks through the Channel tunnel or on ferries. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the U.K.'s strong economy and need for farm and restaurant labor drew migrants from around the world who could speak some English.

Some have turned to small boats organized by smugglers because lockdowns have reduced opportunities to stow away on ferries and trucks. Fine summer weather is also prompting more people to make the risky sea crossing - about 20 miles (32 kilometers) at its narrowest point - in vessels as small as dinghies and kayaks.

Britain's Conservative government has called on French officials to do more to force boats in the Channel back to France. They say France is a safe country and there is no reason migrants should travel from there to the U.K.

Just last month, British Home Secretary Priti Patel and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin agreed to set up a French-British intelligence unit to crack down on what Patel called "gangs behind vile people smuggling."

Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said Britain's immigration minister will go to France next week for talks about "further measures and stronger measures as required to stop and reduce the tide of boats coming."

Sunak declined to comment on reports the U.K. could send Royal Navy ships to patrol the Channel. That has been suggested previously by British politicians.

(Representative Image)