THE government is going in the wrong direction, refugee groups warned today after it promised “a large surge” in return flights for migrants and new detention centres.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced today that the Border Security Command is “gearing up” after the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats topped 19,000 this year so far.

The figure is 10 per cent higher than last year, but 10 per cent down from 2022.