8,400 cross Channel in record year for migrants

MORE than 8,400 migrants reached Britain illegally across the Channel last year, with 33 arriving on the final day.

The total was just over four-and-a-half times the 1,850 who arrived during 2019.

Border officials dealt with four migrant boat incidents yesterday and two the previous day, with a total of 48 new arrivals, bringing the annual tally to 8,410.

At least nine people are known to have died in the attempt last year – including a family of five. Three vessels were intercepted in freezing conditions off the Kent coast by 5am yesterday as people-smugglers took advantage of calm seas. Another reached British waters later.

Border Force immigration officers were seen escorting migrants up the gangway at Dover Marina, Kent, during the early hours. One man wore shorts and flip-flops despite sub-zero temperatures on the perilous 21-mile journey. Another appeared frail. It is thought the vessels made the crossing to beat the Brexit deadline.

Fifteen people arrived by small boats from northern France on December 30.

It came after seven people made the crossing on Boxing Day in one boat. December was relatively quiet due to dangerous sea conditions, with 211 arrivals throughout the month. It compared with 1,954 migrants in September, including a record 416 on just one day.

Home Secretary Priti Patel signed a new deal with France in November, pledging up to £28million to double patrols along a 90-mile stretch of French coastline.

Immigration minister Chris Philp said: ‘France is a safe country with a wellfunctioning asylum system. People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making a dangerous and illegally facilitated crossing.’