Tuesday 9 August 2022 04:52 PM Around 40 migrants including children make Channel crossing as total for August ... trends now

Around 40 migrants including children have made the dangerous journey to cross the English Channel today, as the total number of migrants arriving in the UK during the first nine days of August passes 2,000.

Yesterday, nearly 400 migrants crossed the English Channel by small boat — bringing the total so far this month to 2,271.

Border Force intercepted 386 people at sea while they were trying to make the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits.

According to official government data, this means 2,271 people have arrived in the UK via dinghy or other small craft in August alone.

This figure is set to continue rising as dozens more people were brought into Dover, Kent today.

While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is yet to confirm the figures for Tuesday, it is believed that around 40 migrants were escorted into the harbour on board Border Force ship Typhoon this morning.

Among the latest arrivals were at least four small children — two of which were led along the gangway for processing by a female soldier who held their hands.

The busiest day so far this year came on August 1 when 696 migrants were intercepted at sea by Border Force in just 14 boats — an average of around 50 migrants per vessel.

As it stands, a total of 18,670 people have crossed the Channel, according to data released by the MoD.

In 2021, 28,526 people made the treacherous journey — compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020.

It comes after the weekend saw more than 500 migrants make the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in inflatable dinghies and other small craft.

According to official government data, 337 people arrived on British soil in 10 boats on Saturday, while a further 176 migrants were intercepted at sea in five vessels on Sunday.

The French coastguard (CROSS) in Griz Nez prevented a further 42 people from crossing the Channel in the early hours of Saturday morning.

After being made aware of a boat in difficulty in the Calais Straits, the CROSS tasked the French Navy rescue tug Abeille Normandie with rescuing a group of stranded people.

Abeille Normandie picked up 42 migrants and dropped them at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer where they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service and the border police.

'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable,' a Government spokesperson said.

'Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.

'The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

'Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.' 

Last night, MPs called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain. 

Those making the perilous journey are being warned a new Prime Minister will halt all crossings with patrols, while also dropping their charges from £10,000 to £2,000.

Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country – a Nato member that wants to join the EU – now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France. 

The escalation saw 1,075 Albanians arrive in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12. 

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians. 

Tory backbenchers called on the next prime minister to act urgently. Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, said: 'It's clear many Albanians coming to the UK in small boats are not fleeing from war or persecution – they are economic migrants. This is blatant criminality and it underlines the urgency of getting on with Rwanda and similar schemes.' 

Elsewhere, the charge for hiding inside a lorry is as high as £22,000, although it carries a much high risk of being caught, The Sun reports.

A source said: 'Albanians are being told hundred of people will be patrolling the Channel, fences will guard the coast and they will be sent back and lose their money.

'It's coming from the gangsters so they can cash in by creating a real influx.

'When there is a PM, a new lie will be created - whatever it takes to keep this evil trade going.'

Tom Hunt, the Tory MP for Ipswich, said the 'truly eye-opening' figures 'underline why it's so critical that the Government gets on and introduces the Rwanda scheme', adding: 'We need to bring this farce to a close. Legislation to bring the Rwanda scheme to fruition should be top of the 'in tray' when Parliament gets back after summer recess.' 

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'No one should question this government's determination to break the gangs' business model.'

A source in Liz Truss's leadership campaign said: 'Liz has a plan to expand border force, ensure the European Convention on Human Rights works for Britain, and reform modern slavery laws which are being abused. The need for deterrence is key, which is why we will ensure the migration deal with Rwanda works, and look to strike other deals.' 

A spokesman for Rishi Sunak's campaign said stopping crossings would be a top priority for him, adding: 'It is wholly unacceptable that migrants from peaceful countries, like Albania, are trying to enter the UK illegally.' 

The number of Albanians who arrived by small boat in the six-week period, latest official data places the country much further down the league table of arrivals. 

Just 271 reached Britain by small boat in the first quarter of this year and 757 in the whole of 2021. However, there were a total of almost 5,000 asylum claims made by Albanians in the year to March, suggesting growing numbers may be switching to small boats from other methods of entering the UK, such as hiding in lorries. 

The Home Office did not offer an explanation for the rise in Albanian asylum seekers last night. 

Richard Tice, of Reform UK, who obtained the leaked report said: 'If these people are not genuinely fleeing for their lives, then it is not up to the British taxpayer to support them.' 

Clare Moseley, of refugee charity Care4Calais, questioned whether the Albanian surge could be an 'anomaly'. 'The evidence clearly shows that for the last few years the majority of people crossing the Channel were genuine refugees,' she said. 'If there has been a change, it seems that the success of small boat crossings is affecting the behaviour of smugglers.' 

A government spokesman said: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. The Nationality and Borders Act makes it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and we have introduced life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country.'

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