More than 140 asylum seekers crossed the English Channel to the UK on Friday, October 11, following a five-day pause in crossings. A total of 142 people made the journey in two small boats.
The latest arrivals came after a tragic incident on Saturday, October 5, when four people, including a two-year-old boy, lost their lives after two boats ran into trouble off the coast of France. That same day, 973 people crossed the Channel in 17 boats, marking the highest number of daily arrivals this year.
According to the Home Office, 26,754 people have made the dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats so far this year, compared to 25,931 by the same date in 2023 and 35,688 in 2022.
A Home Office spokesperson condemned the people-smuggling gangs responsible for the crossings, saying, “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.”
They added, “We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.”
Despite efforts to curb crossings, people continue to make the perilous journey, often at the hands of dangerous smuggling operations that put lives at risk.
The Home Office remains focused on bolstering personnel and strengthening international partnerships to address the issue and prevent further loss of life.
