Campaigners have accused UK ministers of bringing a "draconian and punitive" approach that will see those who have fled war, conflict, and danger treated as "criminals" rather than actual refugees.

Refugees who enter the U.K. by crossing the channel between England and France are set to begin being electronically tagged – and prosecuted if they fail to comply – under Home Office plans.Campaigners have accused UK ministers of bringing a "draconian and punitive" approach that will see those who have fled war, conflict, and danger treated as "criminals" rather than actual refugees. Campaigners have suggested that these plans have been pushed through without the government having "concrete evidence" that it will "improve levels of compliance."

Some of the refugees arriving in the UK on the channel, often via small boats or the back of lorries, are going to begin being electronically tagged as part of a Home Office trial programme.

Under the new trial system, those who get tagged may be subject to a curfew or excluded from certain locations, as per a traditional tag.

The home office department said the 12 month pilot, will test whether or not electronic monitoring through tags is an effective way to give asylum seekers an 'immigration bail' who arrive in the country using "unnecessary and dangerous" routes.

The Home Office said the trial will test whether tagging helps regular contact with migrants given bail and progresses their claims more effectively, and to generally keep in touch and try to help in the future.

Boris Johnson said the new system was about ensuring "asylum seekers can't just vanish into the rest of the country".

A spokesperson for the Home Office announced: "The government will not be deterred as we plan for the next flight to Rwanda.

"We will keep as many people in detention as the law allows but where a court orders that an individual due to be on Tuesday's flight should be released, we will tag them where appropriate."