More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel after the second consecutive day of more than 500 people being intercepted, new Home Office figures show.

Some 614 asylum seekers were detected in 10 boats on Wednesday.

A total of 20,433 people in 390 boats have now been picked up so far this year according to the Home Office – with 3,530 alone so far in August.

The milestone had been widely expected after a surge in crossings yesterday.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Daily Express: “Not only are we through 20,000 crossings for the year, we are now ahead of 2023. There is no end to this.

“On Channel migrants, Starmer will fail.”

There are also growing signs the smuggling gangs are packing record numbers into each dinghy.

Some 526 people were picked up in eight boats on Tuesday, meaning there were around 66 asylum seekers crammed into each dinghy.

On Wednesday, 61 were crammed into each dinghy.

Tony Smith, former head of UK Border Force, warned: “These figures show that the Calais smuggling business model is still thriving and our best deterrent is still bad weather in the English Channel.

“Until we start to see many more boat arrivals being refused permission to stay in the UK – and removed from the country – then I’m afraid this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.”

Sir Keir, who was on his first official visit to Germany since becoming Prime Minister, said a new pact between London and Berlin could bolster data and intelligence sharing and intensify joint operations.

This could lead to more raids on warehouses used to store equipment.

After meeting Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Sir Keir said: “On the wider question of irregular migration and the particular issue we have of small boats crossing the Channel, I have long said that I thought the Rwanda scheme was a gimmick, which is why we stood it down immediately.

“But nonetheless, it is very important we take back control of our borders. The best way, the most effective way, to do that is to take down the gangs that are running the vile trade of putting people in dangerous situations across Europe and across the Channel.”

The PM said his “substantive discussions” with Mr Scholz and proposals for a joint agreement on immigration would help the pair “deal with issues like data sharing, intelligence sharing, joint operations”. Sir Keir added: “That is the way to take effective action in relation to the vile trade that sits beneath irregular migration across Europe.”

Mr Scholz said: “The state has to contain irregular immigration so as to not overburden the country.

“This can and must succeed without questioning our basic law and also international treaties.”

Germany is a key transit country for smugglers bringing dinghies and engines to the French coast.

Thousands of migrants also pass through, with organised gangs using safehouses near Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Essen, Dusseldorf, Bochum and Dortmund.

A maritime source said: “There’s no doubt the UK will see more Channel migrants arriving by the end of this year, compared to last.We’re currently in the busiest part of the year, where mostly flat-calm conditions allow for hundreds to cross every day.”

Officials have blamed overcrowding for an apparent increase in deaths, not only through drowning but by being crushed on to boats.