Migrant crisis: 450 asylum seekers cross English Channel today in record breaking day so far this year

Migrant crisis: 450 asylum seekers cross English Channel today in record breaking day so far this year

WATCH: Sunak says UK needs a deterrent to stop illegal migration

GB NEWS
Mark White

By Mark White


Published: 20/03/2024

- 10:54

Updated: 20/03/2024

- 14:41

The total number of migrants who have reached the UK in small boats so far this year is now around 3,900

A record 450 small boat migrants have arrived across the English Channel so far today, the highest number to arrive on a single day this year.

The migrants were taken off eight small boats that took advantage of an improvement in weather conditions to make the crossing.


Today's total beats the previous record for this year, when 401 migrants arrived on March 4.

An improvement in weather conditions has seen criminal people smugglers attempt to launch multiple small boats from French beaches.

Just before 8am on Wednesday, the Border Force vessel Volunteer arrived in Dover harbour with a large group of migrants, who had been taken off two small boats.

GB News Kent producer counted 92 people as they disembarked from the Border Force catamaran.

Migrant arrivals in DoverGB News Kent producer counted 92 people as they disembarked from the Border Force catamaranGB NEWS

The group was taken to the Border Force migrant processing facility at Dover harbour for medical and other checks.

UK and French officials have counted at least six other small boats attempting to reach UK waters.

Weather conditions in the English Channel are currently calm, the best they have been this year, according to one Maritime source.

Yesterday, GB News counted around 60 migrants as they arrived in Dover harbour, having crossed into UK waters.

The total number of migrants who have reached the UK in small boats so far this year is now 3,613.

That number does not include those onboard the six vessels still attempting to cross this morning.

Coastguard in the English Channel

Multiple boats were spotted UK and French authorities

GB NEWS

Migrants arriving in Dover

The total number of migrants who have reached the UK in small boats so far this year is now 3,613

GB NEWS

Last year, the number of small boat migrants was down 36% on the previous year.

The Home Office said the fall in arrivals was in part down to the Government's Stop the Boats policy, which includes more money to boost patrols on French beaches.

However, officials have acknowledged that poor weather conditions over large parts of last year might also have played a part in the reduction in small boats.

The latest arrivals come as the Government's Rwanda bill heads back to the House of Lords, after MPs voted down a series of amends to the bill by Peers.

The spending Watchdog has also highlighted issues around plans to accommodate small boat asylum seekers in larger redeveloped sites, like former RAF bases.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said the £1.2billion bill is around £46million more than the cost if those asylum seekers were kept in hotels.

The NAO said the part of the surge in costs was down to the rushed way in which the Home Office agreed contracts to redevelop former RAF bases and other facilities.

The Home Office insisted that housing asylum seekers in larger purpose built facilities, rather than hotels, would be cheaper over the longer term.

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