New data reveals that over 700 migrants reached the UK in 11 boats on a single day
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “crush the gangs” that charge migrants thousands to smuggle them across the Channel in small boats.
More than 700 migrants arrived in the UK on Sunday after crossing the Channel in 11 boats, marking the highest number since Labour took office.
Home Office data released on Monday revealed that 703 people were detected making the crossing that day, the third-highest figure recorded this year.
The detection of 11 boats suggests an average of 64 people per vessel.
Tragically, two migrants lost their lives attempting to cross the Channel on Sunday. Their small boat was in French waters when a distress signal was sent to the regional coastguard.
Approximately 50 migrants were rescued from the boat by a helicopter and two rescue vessels, with many pulled from the water suffering from “fuel burn injuries,” according to the French maritime regional authorities.
The rescued migrants were returned to France, where an investigation into the two deaths is now underway.
The provisional total of small boat arrivals to the UK in 2024 has now reached 18,342, which is 13% higher than the 16,170 recorded by this time last year. However, it’s 3% lower than the figure of 18,978 reported at the same stage in 2022.
The highest number of arrivals on a single day this year occurred on 18 June, when 882 people crossed the Channel, followed by 711 on 1 May—both before the general election on 4 July.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to “crush the gangs” by establishing a new Border Security Command aimed at combating people-smuggling operations that bring migrants across the Channel.
Under the Counter Terrorism Act, officers will be given enhanced powers to conduct stop and searches at the border, carry out financial investigations, and issue search and seizure warrants targeting organized immigration crime.
Since taking office, Sir Keir has also announced £84 million in funding for African and Middle Eastern countries to address the migration crisis “at its source.”
He stated that the funds will support health and education initiatives, as well as humanitarian aid, to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes.
