THE navy is reportedly threatening to “walk away” from the government’s scheme to reduce small-boat crossings, just three months after it was put in charge of the English Channel.

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel put the military in command of operations to prevent asylum-seekers reaching Britain in small boats in mid-April.

Since then, it is understood that 250-300 military personnel have been deployed on busy days to police refugees in the English Channel.