Downing Street chiefs have been accused of "chasing headlines" following reports officials considered using powerful sonic weapons to turn desperate migrants away.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper urged the Government to work with France and other countries to tackle criminal gangs and ensure safe passages for migrants.
Fresh reports claim No 10 officials explored using Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) as sound grenades on migrants in the English Channel
There are two LRAD's already installed on two Border Force vessels, but are only used for voice commands.
The Ministry of Defence purchased the mighty devices for use as loud speakers during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
A Home Office source told The Sun the suggestion was “f***ing bonkers".
The LRAD's can cause vomiting, mild traumatic brain injuries and permanent hearing loss.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "No. 10 seems to have lost any sense of respect or humanity if they can stoop this low for the sake of headlines.
"Targeting sonic weapons at people in small boats will not stop criminal gangs from profiting, it will just put more lives at risk. The Home Office is right to reject it.
“This is a serious issue which requires serious solutions - not more headline-chasing.”
It comes as Boris Johnson is accused of trying to distract attention from the Downing Street Partygate scandal.
Earlier today, Priti Patel confirmed warships will be sent into the Channel to police small boats.
Home Secretary Priti Patel insisted: “This Government considers all options in terms of outsourcing, processing and how we actually remove as well people with no legal basis to be in our country.”
The Navy is to take over command of the operation to stop Channel crossings from the Border Force within weeks.
At least 28,431 migrants successfully made the voyage last year - trebling the total from 2020.
But 27 people were killed two months ago when their inflatable dinghy sank off Calais.
At the end of last year, Ms Patel told a Commons committee it is "simply not right" for people to arrive in the UK with all their correct documents, and then claim asylum.
The Home Secretary suggested "genuine" seekers fleeing dangerous situations would arrive on Britain's shores without anything to hand.
But those who arrive without any documents would have access to temporary permission to stay in the UK, a committee heard.
At the time, a Home Office spokesperson told the Mirror: "If someone has travelled via a safe country like France, then their claim may be considered ‘inadmissible’ and they could be removed from the UK.”
