Monday 3 October 2022 05:24 PM More than 33,000 migrants have crossed English Channel in small boats this ... trends now
More than 33,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, official government figures have revealed.
Data released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said 33,001 people have been intercepted making the dangerous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 2022.
A total of 7,961 of those migrants arrived in September alone and this figure is expected to increase as a further 400 people crossed the Channel today.
At least two Border Force vessels could be seen escorting dozens of migrants into Dover, Kent in the early hours of this morning - after battling cold and windy conditions at sea.
The migrants, which included young children, wore blankets around their shoulders as they were led along the gangway to the dockside at a former jetfoil terminal, out of sight from the public.
Border force officials at Dungeness beach in Kent escorting migrants ashore this morning - one is pictured holding a small child
A large group of migrants were brought into Dungeness today - queues of people are seen wrapped up in blankets
An RNLI lifeboat brought a third group of asylum seekers into the port shortly before sunrise
Women and young children in winter coats and lifejackets could be seen being placed on buses
As the MoD released their latest data, a further 400 people crossed the Channel today
An RNLI lifeboat brought a third group of asylum seekers into the port shortly before sunrise.
Around 11am today Border Force staff could be seen escorting dozens more migrants to shore.
The asylum seekers were met by an ambulance in the harbour and Border Force vessel Hurricane returned to the harbour with a fifth group shortly before 1pm.
While the MoD is yet to confirm the official figures for today, it is believed at least 400 people have crossed the Channel in inflatable dinghies and other small craft.
This comes after Friday saw 194 people make the perilous crossing in four boats - an average of 49
