More migrants have already crossed the Channel this month than in the whole of February after more than 200 hundred people made the perilous journey on Tuesday, bringing this year’s total to 1,714.
UK authorities intercepted 230 people – including small children spotted at the Port of Dover – who had battled wet and windy conditions on board at least seven boats.
This compares to just 143 people who were stopped throughout the entirety of last month.
Yesterday’s migrant crossings were the first since 132 people were picked up in the Channel during freezing conditions on February 26 – the second of two incidents reported for the whole month of February.
So far this year, 1,714 people have made the treacherous crossing in 58 boats.
On Tuesday, UK authorities intercepted 230 people – including small children spotted at the Port of Dover – who had battled wet and windy conditions on board at least seven boats
Yesterday’s migrant crossings were the first since 132 people were picked up in the Channel during freezing conditions on February 26
The first of yesterday’s arrivals – the first migrants attempting to cross the Channel in March – were escorted to the Port of Dover by the RNLI before sunrise, amid heavy fog and rain.
A second group arrived in the UK on board Border Force cutter Searcher after 8am, with more migrants arriving in HMC Hunter a short while later. All were transferred to Border Force at Dover.
A further two groups – which included a toddler and a young child – were accompanied to the port by UK officials before midday via Border Force ship Hurricane and lifeboats.
Later in the afternoon more migrants were brought to shore on board Border Force cutter Searcher, while another group was escorted into the UK by lifeboat shortly afterwards.
The final arrivals of the day came into Dover at around 5pm on Border Force vessel Hurricane – wrapped in coats and woolly hats.
All of the arrivals appeared to be suffering as a result of the choppy conditions at sea and could be seen clutching emergency foil blankets around their shoulders and heads.
This morning, flimsy rubber dinghies could be seen floating at sea and drifting ashore at Dover – one of which was punctured and partially deflated.
UK authorities intercepted 230 people – including small children spotted at the Port of Dover
Groups including a toddler and a young child were accompanied to the UK before midday on Tuesday
French authorities said they also intercepted 105 people from reaching the UK across three boats.
Between Monday and Tuesday, the French regional operational surveillance and rescue centre (CROSS) at Gris-Nez identified several boats in difficulty in the Pas-de-Calais Strait.
The CROSS worked alongside the French Navy public service patrol boat, Pluvier, to rescue 16 people.
They were recovered from the water before being taken to Calais.
A short while later, a second operation recovered 41 people who were handed over to French border police and the departmental fire and rescue service.
Due to recent strong winds, yesterday’s migrant crossings were the first since 132 people were picked up in the Channel during freezing conditions on January 26.
They were thought to have set off in clear skies and calm conditions on the Friday night but, as they reached the Kent coast, the weather changed making the sea much choppier.
One group, mainly men, were brought in on Border Force cutter Seeker while a second group were picked up by the Border Force vessel Hurricane.
A total of 1,741 have so far crossed the Channel this year, compared to the 28,381 who crossed the Dover Strait last year – dwarfing the 8,410 who arrived in 2020.
All of the arrivals appeared to be suffering as a result of the choppy conditions at sea and could be seen clutching emergency foil blankets around their shoulders and heads
The Home Office has said more than 65,000 people could arrive in the UK by small boat this year
But Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat.
More migrants are predicted to reach the Port of Dover later today.
Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration, Tom Pursglove MP, said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.
‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they also impact on the UK taxpayer and they risk lives.
‘Rightly, the British public has had enough.
‘Through our Nationality and Borders Bill, we’re cracking down on people smugglers and fixing the broken system by making it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and introducing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.’
