A record 165 migrants crossed the English Channel in a single vessel, the largest number recorded on one boat since small boat crossings began in 2018. The group was intercepted by a Border Force vessel in UK waters and taken to Dover.
This event occurred just days after Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister. Critics have pointed to his silence on the immigration issue, particularly regarding small boat crossings, as concerning. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated that Burnham has "not said a single word" on the matter since becoming Prime Minister and criticized this as "disgraceful."
The mega-dinghy was launched from northern France at 6:30 a.m. and was reportedly taking on significant amounts of water, with one float leaking. The French lifeboat service described the situation as "alarming, unique, and exceptional" due to the number of people on board and the condition of the vessel. French patrol ship Minckis reportedly provided life jackets to some migrants who were not wearing them.
In total, 366 people made the journey across the Channel on three boats yesterday. This follows a period of 11 days without crossings due to wind, with 172 arrivals recorded the previous day. According to Home Office figures, 13,007 migrants have arrived in the UK via this route this year.
In a separate incident, an Afghan man who steered an overcrowded dinghy across the Channel for two hours was sentenced to two years in prison for endangering others. The man pleaded guilty to the charge, which falls under new border security legislation enacted in January.
Separately, the National Crime Agency (NCA) seized approximately 50 boats and engines destined for people smuggling gangs at the Port of Felixstowe. The cargo included at least 25 ten-meter-long rubber boats, each capable of carrying up to 80 people, and 25 outboard engines. This seizure is believed to have disrupted an estimated 2,000 migrant crossing attempts. Investigators suspect the shipment was destined for Hamburg, Germany, a known hub for smugglers operating in northern France and Belgium.