In the last four days, more than 1000 people were intercepted while trying to cross Channel. More arrived in Britain Sunday than in December 2012.
The latest crossings mean that since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats – compared to 8,400 in 2020.
Even though thick fog was obscuring sight in Dover Strait for 21 miles, UK authorities arrested 274 individuals from 11 vessels on Sunday. That’s more than the 211 persons who were caught last December.
At least 178 persons were intercepted by French authorities from at least five boats yesterday, and another one Saturday.
British authorities saved or intercepted 358 individuals from 10 vessels on Friday. French authorities also prevented at most 317 persons in 11 boats from reaching Britain between Thursday and Friday.
Last month saw 27 deaths, seven of them being teenagers and one girl aged seven years old, as their boat capsized while crossing the Channel.

After crossing the English Channel, yesterday’s journey saw migrants arrive at the shore to receive assistance from Border Force officers and members of the RNLI.
Dan O’Mahoney (clandestine Channel threat commander) said, ‘Last Month’s tragedy serves as a devastation reminder about the dangers that Channel crossings pose. We will continue to work closely with European and international partners in order to stop the organized criminal gangs who are behind it.
“Unbelievably,” these gangs are still trading in deadly drug trade, with many more crossings happening today. This shamelessly puts lives at risk.
People who plan to travel should seek asylum in any country that is safe for them, and not risk their lives crossing into Europe via the Channel.
“The New Government Plan for Immigration” will make it clear that illegal immigrants are not welcome and be fair to legal and safe routes. This will lower the attraction factors for the current asylum system and immigration system.
Speedwell, a Border Force cutter, brought the first group of eight Border Force men, all wrapped in red blankets, to Speedwell’s home at 8.30 am.
As they were being escorted to Dover Marina in Kent, their large, black dinghy was pulled in.
Border Force had young children aboard the catamaran Hurricane, which docked just after 10 AM.
One father saw his son carrying his young, barefooted child, who was no older than three years old, while wearing blue clothes and his shoes.
The harbour was left with their partially inflated RHIB khaki filled with foil blankets and lifejackets.
At 11:15, 34 migrants were seen looking bitterly cold when they arrived at Dungeness in Kent by RNLI Lifeboats.
Others were wearing no shoes and had their hands cut and bandaged. Some also struggled with cramp to climb onto the coach.
Additionally, 24 migrants were saved from the sea by a rescue operation near the French coast.

On December 20, 2021, an inflatable boat and life vests were found on the Wimereux beach in northern France.

The sinking dinghy of the crew was left floating adrift – and a large empty RHIB, a black RHIB, was found by Shoreham RNLI crews on Sunday night.
French authorities stopped at least 178 migrants, including six boatloads of them, from entering the UK on Sunday.
No crossings were made on Saturday, and no arriving ships were seen as far as 10 am today.
Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney said that “Last month’s tragic incident is a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in Channel crossings. And we will continue to collaborate with European and international partners to take down the organised criminal gangs who are behind it.”
“Unbelievably these gangs keep on trading deadly drugs with even more crossings today. They shamelessly put lives in danger.
The asylum application should be made in the first country that is safe for the person making the crossing.
The Government’s New Plan for Immigration will have a firm stance on illegal migrants and fair treatment for legal immigrants who use safe, legal routes. This will lower the attraction factors for the current asylum system and immigration system.