More than 10,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats in 2024, setting a new record for this stage in the year. This figure surpasses the 9,326 who had crossed by this point in 2022 and the 7,326 who had arrived by May 24 last year.
The record was reached on Saturday after 288 people arrived in five small boats on Friday, bringing the total number of crossings this year to 10,170, according to Sky News calculations. The largest single day of crossings occurred on May 1, when 711 people arrived, coinciding with the start of typically calmer sea conditions. This surge in arrivals highlights the ongoing challenge of managing migration across the English Channel, which has seen a significant increase in recent years.
The calmer sea conditions in early May likely contributed to the spike in crossings as smugglers and migrants took advantage of the safer passage. Authorities are grappling with how to effectively address this issue, balancing humanitarian concerns with border security. This information comes from a recent update from Sky News, underscoring the complexity and urgency of the situation as the number of crossings continues to rise.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has made stopping these crossings a key part of his political agenda, faces increasing pressure as these figures suggest his plan to deter migrants by sending asylum seekers to Rwanda is not working. Sunak recently announced that no flights to Rwanda would take off until after the general election if the Conservatives win, while the Labour Party has pledged to scrap the scheme altogether.
A Home Office spokesperson addressed the situation, emphasizing the urgency of initiating flights to Rwanda: “The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.”
The spokesperson highlighted the efforts of the French police, who are facing growing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work to prevent these dangerous journeys. “We continue to work closely with French police, who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches, as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal, and unnecessary journeys. Last year, they stopped 26,000 people from reaching our shores,” they noted.
The Home Office remains committed to reducing the number of arrivals through tougher legislation and international agreements. “We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats,” the spokesperson added.
As the UK grapples with this ongoing challenge, the government continues to seek solutions to manage and mitigate the flow of migrants crossing the Channel.