Channel migrants hit record daily level after bad weather delays
MORE than 100 migrants attempted to cross the English Channel yesterday – a record daily total – as bad weather created a backlog of people wanting to make the journey.
Border Force said 102 people – 86 male and 16 female – were intercepted in six separate incidents involving inflatable boats heading to the UK.
Nine of the migrants managed to get to a beach in Kent, where they were detained by police.
It is the highest number of people picked up in a day by Border Force agents in the Channel – one day after the previous record was broken.
Seven of the people recovered from the crossings on Friday are believed to be children and will be transferred to the care of social services following an age assessment. The others, including Iranian, Afghan, Pakistani and Iraqi nationals, are expected to be dealt with according to immigration rules.
Border Force sources said people smugglers had been deterred from making crossings throughout January by bad weather but were now hoping to exploit the improved conditions.
The record influx over Thursday and yesterday may also be explained by the predicted arrival of Storm Ciara, bringing high winds and heavy rain.
Intelligence suggests the backlog of migrants hoping to cross is leading smugglers to put up to 17 people in boats designed to carry only seven. The RNLI warns Storm Ciara will bring “very dangerous sea conditions”.
French authorities have intercepted 216 migrants and prevented 10 crossings on land and eight at sea between January 20 and February 5.
Brandon Lewis, the security minister, said: “We are tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts, right alongside our French and Belgian partners. We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.
“We’re supporting security enhancements and increasing intelligence sharing in Belgium and France.
“And it’s working. The majority of migrants who attempt this journey are being stopped, only 25 per cent have made it to the UK this year, compared with 48 per cent last year.”
Last year, around 100 people smugglers were successfully convicted after British authorities cracked down on human trafficking operations.
Earlier this week, Natalie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, said a “fresh approach” is needed and migrants found crossing the Channel should be returned to France regardless of where they are intercepted.