More than 2,000 migrants have crossed Channel since the start of this month... with 150 in a single day over the weekend
More than 2,000 Channel migrants have arrived in Britain in the first half of this month – and 150 made the perilous journey yesterday alone.
At least seven children were among the arrivals at Dover, just days after an Eritrean migrant tragically lost his life in an attempted crossing.
The 27-year-old man died from suspected cardio-respiratory arrest on Thursday after being picked up from the water on the French side of the Channel.
At least seven children were among the arrivals at Dover, just days after an Eritrean migrant tragically lost his life in an attempted crossing
The same day, a record 592 migrants reached UK shores aboard 16 dinghies and other small vessels.
This eclipsed a previous daily high of 482 arrivals, which had been set only eight days earlier.
Yesterday’s total had not been officially confirmed by the Home Office last night but witnesses put the figure at about 150.
Added to the confirmed 1,899 since the start of August, it would take the monthly total to about 2,049.
July saw a monthly record of 3,509, so August – with 16 days yet to go – could see a higher total, especially as meteorologists are predicting calmer conditions for the second half of this month.
Since the start of the year, 11,314 Channel migrants have reached Britain – not including yesterday’s arrivals – compared with 8,410 in the whole of last year.
July saw a monthly record of 3,509, so August – with 16 days yet to go – could see a higher total, especially as meteorologists are predicting calmer conditions for the second half of this month
Yesterday the UK Border Force cutter Vigilant intercepted about 30 migrants shortly before 9am in the first crossing of the day.
They were taken into Dover Marina in small groups on Border Force rigid hulled inflatable boats. Immigration Enforcement staff brought the migrants, who appeared to be mainly men, up the gangway for processing.
Border Force cutter Speedwell moored at the marina at 11am with a further 50 migrants on board, including a family with a young boy no older than two.
Another couple with two little boys aged about four and two also got off the vessel. The youngest, wearing a blue hoodie and missing a sock, was seen crying in the arms of an Immigration Enforcement officer. They were followed by another young family with two boys aged about six.
A young girl and boy came ashore next with their mother.
While Home Secretary Priti Patel has promised to make the Channel route ‘unviable’, the numbers continue to soar.
The figure for asylum claims nationally, however, is down by about a quarter year-on-year, according to the latest figures.
Dan O’Mahoney, the Home Office’s clandestine Channel threat commander, said: ‘We’ve seen a surge in illegal migration across Europe with people-smugglers organising waves of departures from French beaches. Last Thursday’s death is a tragic reminder of the importance of stopping migrants from leaving the safety of France on these dangerous crossings.’
He said Miss Patel’s New Plan for Immigration is ‘the only long-term solution to fix the broken system, tackle the criminal gangs and prevent more tragedies’.
A 21-year-old Algerian, who has not been named, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of the Eritrean man.
He denies the charge and the accusation that he was the skipper of the boat.
The victim’s 22-year-old girlfriend watched in horror as he jumped overboard when passengers realised the boat was sinking.
She was rescued along with the skipper but later found out her boyfriend had died after being airlifted to hospital in Calais.