Migrants have made the journey across the English Channel on Wednesday, with several Border Force vessels and RNLI lifeboats responding to multiple crossings. Pictures show boats filled with people wearing lifejackets arriving in Dover, Kent, during the afternoon.
Border Force vessels were seen following each other into the port, whilst lifeboats arrived packed with people standing on outside decking. The scenes highlight the continuing flow of dangerous Channel crossings despite government efforts to deter them.
Crossings near 25,000 mark
The latest arrivals bring the total number of people reaching the UK this year close to 25,000. Home Office figures show 24,538 people have arrived after making the perilous journey across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
This represents a significant increase of 47% compared to the same point last year when 16,712 people had crossed. The figure is also 67% higher than the 14,732 recorded in 2023.
Record year for crossings
The numbers mark a record for crossings since data collection began in 2018. The surge comes despite repeated government pledges to tackle the issue and ongoing diplomatic efforts with France.
A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the challenge, stating: "We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security." The crossings continue to pose significant risks to those attempting the journey in often unsuitable vessels.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
