True scale of Britain's immigration crisis is revealed
At least 27,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested across the UK in the past four years, new figures reveal.
The figures disclose the true extent of the immigration crisis with a total of 28 forces from across Britain arresting migrants 'without leave to enter'.
At estimated 27,109 illegal immigrants have been picked up by forces including the Met, Gwent in Wales, Thames Valley and North Yorkshire.
This excludes a further 1,144 people who have conspired to help the immigrants sneak into the UK.
Migrants climb in the back of a lorry on the A16 highway leading to the Eurotunnel
A Freedom of Information Request suggested that the Met has arrested a total of 21,967 for immigration offences since 2014.
These arrests are understood to be made after 'lorry drops' and raids, they can also be discovered after committing a low level crime.
The alarming figures suggest that more money needs to be funnelled into Britain's porous borders ahead of Brexit, MPs and union leaders claim.
Tory backbencher Philip Hollobone said: 'These people should be stopped at the border it shouldn't be up to police to arrest them', reports the Sun.
Migrants sit watching lorries driving towards the port where ferries sail to Britain
Lucy Moreton, of the ISU union for borders, immigration and customs workers said that she wasn't shocked by the figures claiming that the border was more like a colander than the odd hole.
Immigrants try to access the UK via the back of a lorry or underneath the van however there are also small ports and private airfields to consider.
Ms Moreton adds that Border Force needs more investment if the Government wants the immigrants to be picked up at the border.
Migrants open the back doors of a lorry in Calais in an attempt to reach England
Only 28 of the 42 police forces in England and Wales replied to the Freedom of Information Request therefore the actual figures are likely to be higher.
The forces that did reply revealed that 933 have been arrested in Warwickshire, 872 in Leicestershire, 440 in Cheshire, 1,271 in West Yorkshire and 2,685 in Thames Valley.
Across the police forces, some 933 illegal immigrants 'without leave to enter' have been arrested in Warwickshire since 2014, 872 in Leicestershire, 440 in Cheshire, 1,271 in West Yorkshire and 2,685 in Thames Valley.
Ex-director of general immigration enforcement at the Home Office, David Wood, claimed that there will be a million illegal immigrants in Britain who will never be deported.
The Government's right to tackle illegal immigration was defended by the Home Office last week as Home Secretary Amber Rudd faced backlash over the 'Windrush' furore.
It said illegal immigration 'impacts the whole of society, putting pressure on taxpayer-funded public services, leaving vulnerable people at the mercy of exploitative employers or landlords and, at worst, fuelling the abhorrent crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking'.