Thursday 18 August 2022 11:55 PM 606 migrants arrive in Dover on second busiest crossings day this year while ... trends now
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More than 21,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, according to official government figures.
A total of 21,058 people have made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 2022 - almost double the 11,599 who had arrived on British soil this time last year.
August alone has seen 4,659 people intercepted at sea by Border Force officials, making it a record month for the year so far.
The busiest day for 2022 came on August 1 when 696 people reached the UK in 14 boats - an average of 50 people per vessel.
This was closely followed by Wednesday, August 17, which saw 606 people cross the Channel in inflatable dinghies or other small craft.
Despite strong winds at sea, crossings began in the early hours of the morning and continued throughout the day.
A child covered with a towel over his life jacket is carried by a member of Border Force while escorting migrants back to Dover Docks
Members of Border Force escort migrants back to Dover Docks after they were picked up in the English Channel this morning
Around 10am Border Force catamaran Typhoon brought at least 80 people into Dover, Kent.
The mostly male group were led along the gangway by soldiers dressed in camouflage fatigues.
Among them were a primary-school aged girl and boy, both wrapped in a blue blankets, and a baby wearing a blue life jacket with sea creatures on it.
Around an hour later Border Force cutter Hurricane arrived at the harbour carrying dozens more migrants.
A few women and children were helped off the vessel first, followed by a number of young men.
At approximately 2.30pm Border Force vessel Volunteer escorted another group of migrants to the port.
Their life jackets were removed by Border Force staff before they were led onto a coach to be taken for
