More than 1,000 migrants tried to cross the Channel in four DAYS - with more reaching the UK on Sunday alone than in the whole of December last year

  • More than 1,000 people were caught trying to cross the Channel in four days  
  • Since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK 
  • British authorities intercepted 274 people from 11 boats on Sunday
  • This is higher than the 211 figure for the entirety of December 2020 

More than 1,000 people have been intercepted trying to cross the Channel in the past four days - and more arrived in Britain on Sunday alone than did in the whole of December last year.

The latest crossings mean that since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats - compared to 8,400 in 2020.

Despite thick fog hampering visibility in the 21-mile Dover Strait, UK authorities intercepted 274 people from 11 boats on Sunday - a higher figure than the 211 people accounting for the entirety of December last year.

French authorities intercepted at least 178 people from five boats yesterday and one on Saturday.  

On Friday British authorities rescued or intercepted 358 people from 10 boats, and French authorities prevented at least 317 people in 11 boats from reaching the UK on Thursday and Friday.

No successful crossings were made today, the Home Office confirmed.  

A total of 27 people are thought to have died last month, including seven women, a teenager and a seven-year-old girl, when their boat sank while trying to cross the Channel.

An inflatable boat, life vests and other remains left on a sand dune of the Wimereux beach, northern France, are pictured on December 20, 2021

An inflatable boat, life vests and other remains left on a sand dune of the Wimereux beach, northern France, are pictured on December 20, 2021

Two drifting migrant dinghies are brought to shore by RNLI in Dungeness, Kent today

Two drifting migrant dinghies are brought to shore by RNLI in Dungeness, Kent today

What happens to migrants after they arrive in the UK? 

Migrants who have been picked up after landing or intercepted at sea are taken to a Border Force processing centre, usually near Dover 

Here arrivals are triaged to identify any medical needs or vulnerabilities, fed and checked to see if they have a criminal record. Adults have an initial interview before being sent to accommodation centre across Britain, paid for by UK taxpayers and provided by private contractors.

The migrants are given £37.75 per week for essentials like food, clothes and toiletries while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. Kent County Council normally takes unaccompanied children into its care, although other local authorities are also involved in this programme.

Other migrants might be kept in a detention centre ahead of a plan to send them back to Europe. However, just five were deported last year as ministers admitted to 'difficulties'. 

While a member of the EU, Britain was part of the Dublin Regulation, an EU-wide deal that required migrants to apply for asylum in the first member state they arrive in and could be deported back to that country if they moved on to another.

However, since Brexit there has been no formal arrangements to allow migrants to be deported to France or another EU member country.  

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Dan O'Mahoney, clandestine Channel threat commander, said: 'Last month's tragedy is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings and we are determined to work with our European and international partners to target the ruthless organised criminal gangs behind them.

'Unbelievably, these gangs continue their deadly trade with more crossings taking place today, shamelessly putting lives at risk.

'People planning to make the journey should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach instead of risking their lives by crossing the Channel from a safe EU country.

'The Government's New Plan for Immigration will be firm on those coming here via illegal routes and fair for those using safe and legal routes. This will reduce the pull factors in the current asylum and immigration system.'      

On Sunday, Border Force cutter Speedwell brought in the first group, consisting of around eight men draped in red blankets for warmth, at around 8.30am.

Their large black dinghy was towed in as they were escorted up the gangway at Dover Marina, Kent for processing.

Young children were on board Border Force's huge catamaran Hurricane when it docked around 10am.

A father was seen carrying a young barefooted boy, no more than three years of age, wearing a blue coat as his mother carried his shoes.

Their partially deflated khaki RHIB filled with lifejackets and foil blankets was left in the harbour.

And 34 migrants appeared bitterly cold as they were brought to shore at Dungeness, Kent on a RNLI lifeboat around 11am.

Some were not wearing shoes, had cut and bandaged hands and struggled to get onto an awaiting coach due to cramp.

There was also a rescue operation off the French coast which saw 24 migrants rescued from the water.

The latest crossings mean that since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats - compared to 8,400 in 2020 (pictured: The Kent shore today)

The latest crossings mean that since the start of the year, more than 27,000 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats - compared to 8,400 in 2020 (pictured: The Kent shore today) 

 

Their sinking dinghy was left floating adrift - and a large black empty RHIB was recovered by RNLI crews in Shoreham after being discovered in the sea on Sunday night.

French authorities also intercepted and prevented at least 178 migrants from reaching the UK in six boats on Sunday.

There were no successful crossings on Saturday. 

Dan O'Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: 'Last month's tragedy is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings and we are determined to work with our European and international partners to target the ruthless organised criminal gangs behind them.

'Unbelievably, these gangs continue their deadly trade with more crossings taking place today, shamelessly putting lives at risk.

'People planning to make the journey should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach instead of risking their lives by crossing the Channel from a safe EU country.

'The Government's New Plan for Immigration will be firm on those coming here via illegal routes and fair for those using safe and legal routes. This will reduce the pull factors in the current asylum and immigration system.'