A staggering number of 686 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday, marking the highest daily total in over seven months. The figure brings the total number of illegal Channel crossings by small
boats this year to over 12,000. Thirteen boats carrying migrants were intercepted by a Border Force clipper and brought to shore on Friday.
The influx of arrivals continued today, with more migrants being seen in Dover. This is the second consecutive day that Home Office officials have been compelled to respond to such crossings after a six-day lull earlier this month. Unfavorable weather conditions had temporarily disrupted the illegal crossings, but the return of warmer weather and calmer seas has emboldened trafficking gangs to resume their operations in the past 48 hours.
Despite promises of a crackdown on these crossings by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, official figures from the Home Office reveal that 12,120 migrants have landed in Dover since January 1. This number is slightly lower than the corresponding period last year, which saw just over 13,000 arrivals. Friday's record figure of 686 individuals surpasses the previous high for the year, recorded on June 11 with 549 arrivals, and marks the largest number since November 29 when 893 migrants were processed.
Furthermore, the figures for June indicate that 3,824 migrants arrived in the country, representing the highest total for the month since records began five years ago. In comparison, June 2021 saw 3,140 arrivals, while 2,177, 727, and 163 were recorded in 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Despite the influx throughout the month, the overall total for the first half of the year remains 10% lower than the same period last year, which stood at 12,747.
The government's Rwanda policy, a key initiative, was recently ruled unlawful by the Court of Appeal, prompting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take the case to the Supreme Court. The government has faced opposition and 20 defeats in the House of Lords regarding their controversial policies, with even the Archbishop of Canterbury voting against the proposals. Some ministers have threatened to withdraw Britain from the European Convention of Human Rights, a post-World War II initiative led by Winston Churchill to provide asylum to those in need of safe haven. Photo by Eluveitie, Wikimedia commons.