Channel Crossings Soar as Calm Weather Breaks a Month of Storms
After weeks of fierce weather kept small boats grounded, calm seas returned late Saturday – and so did the human tide. People-smuggling gangs off the French coast wasted no time launching fleets of tiny boats across the Channel, mainly from Gravelines near Dunkirk.
French Navy Stands By as Boats Set Off
French naval vessels trailed the rubber dinghies but refused to intervene, sticking to their policy of only stepping in if craft hit trouble before reaching UK waters. At around 7:30pm Saturday, the first small boat pushed off into the Channel. It reached UK seas by midnight and all aboard were caught by Border Force officers.
The Border Force vessel Volunteer then ferried about 40 migrants to Dover’s processing centre shortly after 1am. These were the first arrivals since 106 people were intercepted from two boats earlier in the week.
Record-Breaking Numbers Expected as Weather Holds
Today was the busiest day for Channel crossings so far this year, with over 300 people arriving in eight small boats. Border Force catamarans Ranger and Hurricane, plus two RNLI lifeboats, a coastguard plane, and a military surveillance aircraft, were deployed to patrol the waters. French warships also escorted the dinghies as they neared UK territory.
Officials are on high alert as calmer weather is forecast to last until Wednesday, raising fears thousands will attempt the perilous journey in the coming days. Since the New Year, around 450 migrants have made the crossing.
Home Office Prepares for Surge Amid Security Shake-Up
Last year saw a record-breaking 45,756 migrants cross the Channel, and Home Office predicts this could triple in 2024 – weather permitting. The military will hand over control of Channel migrant operations to a new Small Boats Command at the end of the month. This new team will deploy an extra 700 Border Force officers in Kent and boost cooperation with the National Crime Agency and the military to tackle the crisis.
“The new command will see Border Force, NCA and the military working together more closely to stem the flow,” said a government source.
With the Channel crossings set to surge and weather conditions finally stabilising, the UK faces another summer of tough migrant challenges ahead.
