More than 3,000 migrants arrived in Britain in busiest fortnight of Channel crossings this year, new figures reveal
More than 3,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the busiest fortnight of Channel crossings so far this year, new figures have revealed.
More than 3,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the busiest fortnight of Channel crossings so far this year, new figures have revealed.
A total of 3,197 people made the journey between October 24 and November 6, Home Office figures show.
This is the busiest 14-day period of crossings for the year so far, according to analysis by the PA news agency.
It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings.
Sir Keir announced the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters the agreements were very important and that how to work together to take down gangs smuggling people across borders had been a key feature of discussions at the days meetings.
A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channe
British Border Force officials escort migrants into Dover Docks in Kent, United Kingdom on November 04, 2024
A total of 3,197 people made the journey between October 24 and November 6, Home Office figures show
Sir Keir said: The conversation was about how we then turn those into the operations that we need to intercept the gangs - the groups that are running this, making a huge amount of money all along the routes that theyre using for people smuggling.
And Im absolutely determined that with agreements like this, we can take these gangs down.
He was expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.
On the same day as his speech, nearly 180 migrants crossed the channel in three boats.
More than 17,500 migrants have reached Britain since the election.
The running tally for the year is up 16 per cent to almost 32,000 compared with the same point last year.
The Prime Minister is in Budapest for a European Political Community meeting to discuss support for Ukraine, migration, economic security and waning EU competitiveness.
Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel
Some 307 people made the journey in five boats on Wednesday, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 31,842.
This is up 19% on this time last year (26,699) but down 20% on 2022 (39,929), a record high year for crossings.
The crossings come as four bodies were discovered in the water off the coast of Calais across Tuesday and Wednesday, the French coastguard said.
Kent Police also said the body of a man was pulled from the Channel as officers were called to Dover lifeboat station on Tuesday.
Investigations have been launched into their deaths and authorities are yet to confirm whether the people who died were migrants.
Some 50 people have died while trying to cross the Channel this year, according to incidents recorded by the French coastguard.
The latest incidents are yet to be recorded in the figures.
Earlier this week, Sir Keir also vowed the Government would treat people smugglers like terrorists as he announced an extra £75 million for his border security command during a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow on Monday.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Tuesday November 5, 2024
Two more bodies have today been found in the English Channel, bringing this weeks migrant death toll to six
The next day the ringleader of a prolific people smuggling gang thought to be behind 10,000 Channel crossings was jailed for 15 years in a French court, with 17 other members of the network also convicted.
The group was prosecuted in the wake of a 2022 police operation across Europe which led to dozens of arrests in Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands, with more than 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets, engines and cash being seized.
Meanwhile, Interpol director of organised and emerging crime Richard Chambers told PA the scale of Channel crossings is significant amid the growing threat from people smuggling, as details emerged of the largest worldwide operation of its kind co-ordinated by the law enforcement body which culminated in thousands of arrests.
The latest data comes after it was revealed that six migrants were found dead in the English Channel this week.
On Wednesday morning a pleasure boat crew reported to the French coastguard that they had spotted a human body adrift off Calais.
And on Wednesday afternoon the crew of a passenger ship reported to French coastguard that they had seen another body adrift off the coast in front of the port of Calais.
The person recovered and brought back into the port of Calais, as an investigation was opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutors office.
Rescue vessels were launched and the body was recovered and brought back to the quay in Calais.
