A group of 61 illegal migrants crossed the Channel on their way from France to the UK on Sunday.
It is the first crossing of the strait since December 29 last year. All the illegals arrived on the same boat.
According to preliminary government figures, 36,816 migrants will enter the UK via the Channel route in 2024, a 25 per cent increase on the 29,437 who arrived in 2023.
2022 was a record year when 45,800 foreigners made the dangerous journey across the strait on inflatable boats. Since the start of 2018, the total number of illegal migrants crossing the Channel from France to the UK to seek asylum has reached 150,000. More than 300 people have died trying to reach British shores in six years, including 77 in 2024.
The issue of illegal migration has escalated in the UK since the country’s exit from the European Union, despite it being a key theme during Brexit.
The new Labour cabinet, formed after parliamentary elections on July 4 last year, has promised to increase co-operation with EU states and the Middle East region to stem the flow of illegals seeking to enter the country. However, having abandoned the Conservatives’ previous project to send illegals to Rwanda, Labour has yet to offer its own plan to tackle the problem.
