SAJID Javid faces growing demands to call in the Royal Navy to stem the Channel migrant crisis as he declared it a major incident.

MPs from across the political divide united to call on the Home Secretary to swallow his pride and request the military’s help.

8 Migrants found in the Channel earlier this week, as it has been revealed that 92 have attempted to enter the UK by dinghy since Christmas Credit: Steve Finn

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Anger erupted as it emerged the Border Force has just one of its five cutters available for service in the world’s busiest sea route.

At the same time, the number of illegals making crossings continued to spiral.

A further 12 men from Syria and Iran picked up in two more inflatable boats trying to reach beaches on the South Coast.

Their seizure brought the total to 92 in just four days since Christmas Day, and to 220 since November.

8 Boarder force and port authority workers brought eight more migrants to shore Credit: Steve Finn

8 Home Secretary has come under fire over crossings Credit: Steve Finn

But despite the mounting chaos, Mr Javid was still refusing to call on 1,000 Royal Navy sailors waiting on holiday standby with ships and helicopters.

Facing growing pressure, Mr Javid instead interrupted his holiday to hold a conference call with senior Home Office officials and police chiefs.

8 Mr Javid interrupted his holiday to hold a conference call with senior Home Office officials and police chiefs

Footage shows armed police aboard container ship after four stowaway migrants attempting to seize the vessel were arrested

The Cabinet minister also appointed a Gold Commander from the Border Force to take charge of the crisis and requested an urgent phone call with France’s interior minister.

But Mr Javid was blasted for leaving the Channel woefully under-protected and ignoring MPs’ repeated warnings about an impending onslaught of illegal crossings.

There was also uproar when it emerged that bungling ministers had despatched three of the remaining five Border Force cutters to the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas to help with EU migrant operations, while the fifth was stuck in maintenance.

Commons Home Affairs Committee member and independent MP John Woodcock insisted: “The public is losing confidence in the struggling Border Force. It’s time to stop the rot by sending in the Royal Navy. It was a big mistake to deploy forces elsewhere.

“If the civilian force can’t cope, the Navy must stop this crisis becoming a catastrophe.”

8 Mr Javid was blasted for leaving the Channel woefully under-protected and ignoring MPs’ repeated warnings about an impending onslaught of illegal crossings Credit: Steve Finn

Also raising a security alarm, another committee member Tory MP Tim Loughton added: “There is a serious security implication, as this is a likely route undesirables who have been fighting in Syria to use if they want to return to the UK.

“Of course there is now a case for the Royal Navy to be brought in to do border protection in the Channel.

“We don’t have enough cutters, and they’re in the wrong place.”

8 The MoD confirmed that 1,000 Royal Navy personnel are currently on standby for any emergency operations over the Christmas period Credit: Getty Images - Getty

A third committee member, Tory MP Douglas Ross, added: “We should use any and all means across Government to solve this problem, and if that means the Home Office calling on the MoD’s help, then so be it”.

The MoD confirmed that 1,000 Royal Navy personnel are currently on standby for any emergency operations over the Christmas period.

They include the full crew of a Type 23 frigate, and Royal Fleet Auxillary tanker, and a number of Offshore Patrol Vessels, as well as Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.

But the MoD confirmed it had received no request for the Royal Navy’s help as yet from the Home Office.

8 The Home Office also said that Mr Javid had asked the Border Force to look at redeploying one of its cutters from EU operations to the Channel Credit: AP:Associated Press

A former immigration boss, David Wood, insisted the illegal migrants must be deported back to France immediately to deter any others.

The Home Office also said that Mr Javid had asked the Border Force to look at redeploying one of its cutters from EU operations to the Channel, but only if they decide that it doesn’t encourage more people to try to cross.

Migrants may be more encouraged to make the risky crossing if they believe they are very likely to be rescued at sea and taken to the UK.

It is feared that more will try to make the crossing this weekend to take advantage of unseasonably calm seas.

Migrants pay smuggling gangs up to £10,000 each to cross the Channel by dinghy.

8 Diane Abbott insisted Britain must allow all who make an illegal crossing to claim asylum here Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee last year warned the Border Force has a “worryingly low” number of ships to patrol the UK’s vast 7,000 mile-long shoreline.

The UK’s Border Force has been responsible for frontline policing of the borders since 2008.

Home Affairs Committee Chair Yvette Cooper MP said: “The British and French authorities have known for some time about the risks posed by criminal gangs of people smugglers along the coast. They have been active in encampments over many years but much more coordinated French and British action is needed to tackle them.

“Given the concerns raised by the Chief Inspector of Borders about how overstretched the border force is at many ports and the problems faced dealing with smaller boats, we also need to know what resource and cooperation plans the Home Office has to address this. We will be urgently pursuing these issues when Parliament returns in January”.

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Diane Abbott insisted Britain must allow all who make an illegal crossing to claim asylum here.

Contradicting David Wood, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary instead said: “Once in British waters, they have a right to claim asylum. The focus has to be on saving lives.

“We should be stopping them from trying to make the crossing in the first place.”

Special Forces arrest four stowaway migrants attempting to seize control of container ship near Margate