'I don't believe the UK lacks the means to stop this from happening... but I think they need this flow of immigrants'

"rampant black market" economy. The man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that it was wrong to blame Britain's fractured communities on migrants.

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He said: "I know that the UK is not experiencing a good situation politically and financially.

"But the media are putting the spotlight on the immigrants and making them appear like they are the main problem of the UK but I don't think they are.

"If the Government and police wanted to stop this flow of immigrants, they can do it.

"I don't believe the UK lacks the means to stop this type of thing from happening.

"But the UK needs this flow of immigrants, they need this kind of labour force."

The people smuggler shamelessly admitted earning around £400,000 from putting hundreds of people on dinghies to make the perilous Channel crossing to our shores.

Yet he dismissed protests against hotels housing asylum seekers, saying: “It is a bit laughable.

"I saw the faces of people taking this route, they were young people, hopeless girls and boys risking their life for a better future.

"I don’t think a woman with a toddler can be considered a criminal." He also doubts the new laws introduced by Sir Keir Starmer’s administration in an effort to tackle the small boats crisis will work.

The Home Office this month announced measures designed to “crack down” on social media content promoting illegal migration from France to the UK.

However, the smuggler said the policies were fundamentally flawed as he, like most of his connections in the trafficking network, were based outside British jurisdiction.