More than 4,500 migrants have now crossed the Channel this year after 77 came in two boats yesterday
- This follows on from the 500 that risked the voyage into Dover on Wednesday
- Officials warn that as many as 80,000 migrants could enter the UK this year
A total of 77 migrants were detected crossing the English Channel in two boats yesterday, latest Government figures have shown.
This follows on from the 500 that risked the voyage into Dover on Wednesday 5 April, which saw the highest daily total so far this year.
The number of migrants crossing the English Channel so far this year has now risen to over 4,500, according to the Home Office figures.
The total number of crossings last year was 45,755.
The stark number of migrants entering the UK comes despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to crack down on the problem and ‘stop the boats’.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from the RNLI Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel on Thursday 6 April
The latest Home Office figures show that 77 people in two boats risked the voyage as they entered Dover docks in Kent in misty conditions
The latest Home Office figures show that 77 people in two boats risked the voyage on Thursday.
A group of people thought to be migrants were brought in to Dover, Kent, from the RNLI Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel yesterday.
Pictures showed around 30-35 people, mainly men, being brought ashore at the immigration processing centre at the former jetfoil terminal from one of the boats.
They were brought into the harbour onboard the Dover lifeboat after being rescued at sea with visibility said to be very low.
Many were wrapped in blankets to protect them from the cold.
It comes after 492 people crossed the Channel on Wednesday, the year’s highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published.
This now brings the total number of people detected making crossing in small boats this year to 4,563, according to the provisional figures.
This sharp increase in numbers comes despite the Prime Minister promising to ‘stop the boats’ as one of his five main priorities.
Around 30-35 people, mainly men, were brought ashore at the immigration processing centre on Thursday
This sharp increase in numbers crossing the English Channel comes despite the Prime Minister promising to ‘stop the boats’ as one of his five main priorities
On Wednesday, a total of 492 people crossed the Channel, the year’s highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published
Officials have also warned that as many as 80,000 migrants could enter the UK on small boats this year
In March this year, Mr Sunak announced legislation to toughen up Britain’s asylum system in an attempt to make asylum claims inadmissible from those who travel illegally to the UK on small boats.
Instead they will either be sent back to their home country or to a nation like Rwanda with which the UK has a deal, although so far legal challenges have meant no flights carrying migrants have taken off for Kigali.
The Government’s Illegal Migration Bill is currently going through Parliament.
Officials have also warned that as many as 80,000 migrants could enter the UK on small boats this year.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system.
‘Our priority is to stop this illegal trade, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers.
‘The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.’
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