2023's Peak Day for Migrants Crossing English Channel to UK

author: FutureCar Staff    

Nearly 900 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Saturday, marking the highest number of arrivals in a single day this year. This surge follows UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's commitment to halt the increasing numbers of people undertaking this perilous journey, as well as France's implementation of enhanced security measures along the Calais coast.

According to the latest provisional government data, a total of 872 individuals made the crossing on 15 small vessels on Saturday. This equates to an average of approximately 58 people per boat and brings the year's total to 20,973, putting the UK on track to receive an estimated 40,000 arrivals.

Addressing the concerning situation, the Home Office stated, "The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. The government is taking further action through our Illegal Migration Act, which will result in the detention and prompt removal of individuals who arrive in the UK illegally, either to their country of origin or a safe third country."

In August, official figures revealed that over 100,000 migrants had crossed the Channel from France to southeast England on small boats since 2018 when the UK began publicly recording arrivals. This stands in stark contrast to the handful of individuals who made the journey back then. The route across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes has proven perilous, with numerous boats capsizing and a significant number of migrants losing their lives in the waters over the past decade.

To combat this ongoing issue, France has implemented increased security measures, including the introduction of more patrols and a chain of buoys blocking a river to hinder migrants attempting to cross the Channel. Additionally, a plane operated by Frontex, the EU border agency, equipped with infrared and thermal cameras, assists in tracking down migrants. Despite these efforts, people still manage to set sail.

The previous highest number of daily arrivals for 2023 was recorded on August 10, with 756 migrants making the crossing. The newly deployed buoys aim to prevent migrant boats from reaching the English Channel.

While the total number of arrivals this year remains lower than the same period last year, when 25,000 people had already made the journey, it is important to note that the record high for a single day since 2018 is 1,295 arrivals on August 22, 2022. As for this week, Saturday's arrivals bring the total to 1,172 individuals, with crossings recorded on only two out of six days, following the arrival of 300 migrants on Tuesday. Figures for any crossings on Sunday will be published on Monday.

According to the latest available Home Office data, the total number of arrivals in 2022 was 45,774, slightly higher than the previously recorded 45,755. In August, the average number of migrants crossing the Channel per boat reached a new monthly high, with 5,369 individuals making the journey using 102 boats, averaging around 53 migrants per vessel.

FutureCar Staff