Channel migrant crisis on course for 40,000 by year's end - as almost 33,000 cross so far in 2024
Migrants could get free transport in London
GB News
The number of small boat migrants crossing the English Channel is likely to hit 40,000 by the end of the year, according to maritime security sources, as almost 33,000 have now made the illegal journey so far this year.
Over the weekend a further 781 migrants crossed from France.
On Saturday, 572 migrants made the illegal journey in nine small boats.
Yesterday, a further 209 crossed into UK waters in four migrant boats.
Channel migrant crisis on course for 40,000 by year's end - as almost 33,000 cross so far in 2024
GETTYDespite sometimes poor weather conditions, Sunday's arrivals marked the seventh straight day of small boat crossings, bringing a further 1,806 people into the UK asylum system.
The 32,900 arrivals this year are 22 per cent up on the same point last year, when 26,699 migrants had crossed from France.
One maritime security source said there had been no slow down in the numbers making the dangerous journey.
He added: "October was the busiest month on record since October 2022, and it's clear the criminal gangs are prepared to push small boats out into the water whenever it's just about manageable weather-wise.
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Migrants continue to cross the Channel GETTY"A year back, we weren't really seeing as many attempts to launch boats when the weather in the Channel was poor.
"And that's now being reflected in the significantly increased number of small boat rescues and migrant deaths."
On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, four bodies were discovered in the water off the coast near Calais, the French coastguard said.
Kent Police also said the body of a man was pulled from the Channel on Tuesday, as officers were called to Dover lifeboat station.
If the latest deaths are confirmed to be migrants, it takes the number who have died in the English Channel so far this year to 55, the worst year for deaths since the migrant crisis began.
The maritime security source predicted thousands more would make the dangerous journey by the end of 2024.
A stock image of migrants crossing the ChannelPA"At the current rate, we will definitely pass 35,000 by the end of this month" he said.
"I'd say we're now on course to see 40,000 cross by year's end".
In just over a fortnight since the number of small boat migrants passed the 29,437 who crossed in the whole of last year, a further 3,463 have made the voyage from France.
The latest crossings come just days after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer entered into a new agreement to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the western Balkans.
Starmer announced 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.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
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