Another 606 migrants arrive in Dover on second busiest crossings day this year while another 101 were stopped by French authorities before they got across the Channel
- 21,058 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year
- It is almost double the 11,599 who had arrived on British soil this time last year
- Busiest day this year was August 1 when 696 people reached the UK in 14 boats
- This was closely followed by yesterday, which saw 606 people cross the Channel
More than 21,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, according to official government figures.
A total of 21,058 people have made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 2022 – almost double the 11,599 who had arrived on British soil this time last year.
August alone has seen 4,659 people intercepted at sea by Border Force officials, making it a record month for the year so far.
The busiest day for 2022 came on August 1 when 696 people reached the UK in 14 boats – an average of 50 people per vessel.
This was closely followed by Wednesday, August 17, which saw 606 people cross the Channel in inflatable dinghies or other small craft.
Despite strong winds at sea, crossings began in the early hours of the morning and continued throughout the day.
A child covered with a towel over his life jacket is carried by a member of Border Force while escorting migrants back to Dover Docks
Members of Border Force escort migrants back to Dover Docks after they were picked up in the English Channel this morning
Around 10am Border Force catamaran Typhoon brought at least 80 people into Dover, Kent.
The mostly male group were led along the gangway by soldiers dressed in camouflage fatigues.
Among them were a primary-school aged girl and boy, both wrapped in a blue blankets, and a baby wearing a blue life jacket with sea creatures on it.
Around an hour later Border Force cutter Hurricane arrived at the harbour carrying dozens more migrants.
A few women and children were helped off the vessel first, followed by a number of young men.
At approximately 2.30pm Border Force vessel Volunteer escorted another group of migrants to the port.
Their life jackets were removed by Border Force staff before they were led onto a coach to be taken for processing by UK officials.
The force and the military brought the migrants ashore at Dover this morning
Albanian migrants are being conned by ruthless human traffickers into making dangerous Channel crossings before Britain’s next Prime Minister takes office.
Those making the perilous journey are being warned a new leader will halt all crossings with patrols, while also dropping their charges from £10,000 to £2,000.
MPs last night called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain.
Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country – a Nato member that wants to join the EU – now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France.
The escalation saw 1,075 Albanians arrive in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.
They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.
Border Force boat Ranger intercepted around 50 more people at 5pm.
Among them was a young woman carrying a tiny baby in a blue blanket and an elderly man who had to be pushed along the gangway in a wheelchair.
A teenage boy could be seen laughing and giving a reverse victory hand gesture towards onlookers as he disembarked the boat.
The French coastguard also intercepted more than 100 people in the Channel on Wednesday.
The regional operational and surveillance centre (CROSS) in Griz-Nez identified several boats in difficulty in the Calais Straits.
It tasked the French Navy boat Flamant with picking up 62 stranded people and dropping them off at the port of Dunkirk.
While the French Navy tug Abeilla Normandie was tasked with rescuing 39 migrants and dropping them off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Once at the dock, they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service and the border police.
A total of 28,526 people made the treacherous journey across the English Channel in small boats in 2021 – compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020, according to official government figures.
A Government spokesperson said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.
‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.
‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’
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