This morning, dozens of migrants were observed being brought into Dover as the latest Home Office statistics revealed that more than 10,000 individuals have attempted to cross the English
Channel in small boats this year.
The Typhoon cutter transported the group of people to shore, coinciding with the ongoing rise in arrivals into the country, spurred by the warmer weather.
On Saturday alone, 374 individuals were detected, bringing the provisional total for 2023 to 10,139. In comparison, there were 45,755 crossings recorded in 2022.
After a period of relative quiet earlier in the month, crossings have increased in recent days, with 2,529 arrivals reported between June 10 and 17.
These figures indicate that an average of around 53 people per boat crossed the Channel on Saturday, as seven boats were detected.
Nevertheless, the overall number of crossings this year remains lower than the corresponding period in 2022. By June 17, 2022, more than 11,300 crossings had been detected, surpassing the 10,139 recorded thus far in 2023.
In a bid to reduce the number of migrants and vulnerable asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats, the Home Office and French government have announced their collaboration to launch a surveillance plane. This aircraft will operate 24/7 and serve as the "final piece in the puzzle" to curb crossings.
The move comes in response to the French Interior Minister's statement on Thursday, emphasizing their role in border security for the British people.
The surveillance plane boasts all-weather capabilities, allowing it to operate even in heavy cloud cover—an advantage over existing drone technology employed for similar purposes.
The deployment of the plane is expected to enhance the ability of French and English authorities to prosecute people smugglers, as it can capture evidence of crossings for potential legal action and improve tracking capabilities of boats undertaking the perilous journey.
Meanwhile, an investigation has uncovered a concerning trend where Albanian migrants entering the UK illegally are paying smugglers up to £30,000 for fake family arrangements.
Gangs have been exploiting British or EU single mothers and their children by arranging sham marriages over TikTok. These videos target prisoners fighting deportation and individuals who have illegally entered the UK.
Furthermore, Albanian gangs have launched advertising campaigns offering stowaway trips and Channel crossings, with over a quarter of last year's 45,755 small boat crossings involving individuals from Albania.
One TikTok account has been identified as facilitating connections between migrants and the recruited mothers, providing guarantors who offer fraudulent UK addresses. Such services enable illegal migrants to secure immigration bail, which currently requires a place of residence in the UK.
The Home Office has expressed concern over the high number of dangerous crossings, placing immense strain on the asylum system. Efforts to disrupt people smugglers are ongoing through the Small Boats Operational Command, a joint initiative with French partners and other agencies. The government has also introduced legislation to detain and promptly remove individuals arriving in the UK illegally to their country of origin or a safe third country. Photo by Des Blenkinsopp, Wikimedia commons.