More than 3,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats during the past fortnight, marking the busiest two-week period of 2024.
Home Office figures reveal that 3,197 people made the perilous journey between October 24 and November 6, despite cooling temperatures.
The surge represents a dramatic increase compared to the same period last year, when just 198 migrants attempted the crossing.
The unprecedented rise comes as authorities grapple with mounting challenges in the Channel, with five boats carrying 307 people making the crossing on Wednesday alone.
The surge represents a dramatic increase compared to the same period last year, when just 198 migrants attempted the crossing (stock pic)
PAThe significant increase in crossings has occurred during autumn months, traditionally a quieter period compared to the peak summer season.
The provisional total for Channel crossings in 2024 has reached 31,842 migrants, according to Home Office data.
This figure marks a 19 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, when 26,699 people had made the crossing.
However, the current numbers remain below the record levels seen in 2022, showing a 20 per cent decrease from that year's total of 39,929 crossings.
The latest statistics emerge as authorities continue to monitor the situation in the Channel, with multiple boats still attempting the dangerous journey despite autumn conditions.
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The death toll in the Channel has risen dramatically this year, with 66 migrant deaths recorded so far (stock pic)
PAThe death toll in the Channel has risen dramatically this year, with 66 migrant deaths recorded so far - more than five times the total of 12 for all of last year.
In a tragic development this week, four bodies were discovered in waters off the coast of Calais across Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the French coastguard.
Adding to the grim toll, Kent Police reported that a man's body was recovered from the Channel after officers were called to Dover lifeboat station on Tuesday.
The rising fatality rate comes despite ongoing efforts by authorities on both sides of the Channel to prevent dangerous crossings.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has recently secured new agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo to combat criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans.
Speaking at the European Political Community meeting in Budapest, the Prime Minister emphasised that Britain cannot tackle the crisis alone.
"There is a criminal empire operating on our continent, exacting a horrendous human toll and undermining our national security," he said.
Starmer pledged £75million for Border Security Command during a speech at the Interpol general assembly in Glasgow.
He is also seeking to restore pre-Brexit intelligence-sharing arrangements with the EU, including the European arrest warrant and Europol membership.
