A group of migrants was rescued and brought to shore in a lifeboat after attempting to cross the English Channel. Photographs taken on Tuesday show men, women, and children wrapped in blankets, wearing life jackets, and covered in bright orange emergency thermal blankets as they stepped off an RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat in Dover
. The weather was foggy and damp at the time. Another photo shows a separate group arriving on a larger Border Force ship, which is used by the UK government to patrol the coastline and intercept migrant boats.
According to recent data from the Home Office, 119 people crossed the Channel in just two small boats on Monday. This brings the estimated total number of arrivals for the year to 8,183. Compared to last year, this is a significant increase—31% higher than the 6,265 people who had arrived by the same point in 2023, and 67% more than the 4,899 who had made the journey by this time in 2022.
These latest arrivals follow a new record set just days earlier. On Saturday, 656 people crossed the Channel in a single day, pushing the total number of arrivals for the year to 8,064. This surpasses the previous record of 7,567 crossings recorded between January and April 2024.
A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that the government is determined to stop these dangerous crossings, which put lives at risk and weaken border security.
They emphasized that the criminal gangs organizing these journeys have no regard for the safety of the people they exploit—their only concern is making money. The spokesperson added that authorities are working tirelessly to disrupt these smuggling operations and bring those responsible to justice.
