Record 60,000 migrants tipped to cross Channel

A RECORD 60,000 migrants could cross the English Channel in small boats this year, a Border Force union boss has warned.

A surge in numbers crossing the 26-mile stretch of water so far in 2022 has outstripped previous estimates that last year’s recordsetting total of 28,526 would double. That figure was in itself three times higher than the number in 2020.

More than 4,500 migrants have reached British shores this year – including 3,066 in March alone.

Lucy Moreton, of the Union for Borders, Immigration and Customs, said: ‘The planned numbers for this year were double that of the preceding year. We’re ahead of that now.’

Home Office Minister Tom Pursglove said forthcoming legislation would help to deal with the issue.