The Home Office recorded 781 migrants arriving in the UK on Wednesday, the highest single-day total so far this year. The arrivals came in 10 boats, suggesting an average of 78 people per boat.
This brings the provisional total for Channel crossings for the year so far to 18,565. That figure is down 42% on the same time last year (32,188) and 26% below the total at this stage in 2024 (25,165).
Undetected landings prompt review
The latest figures come after two boats landed undetected on British shores within two days this week. On Monday, a dinghy reached shore at Folkestone, and the following day 21 people were detained when a boat evaded Border Force to reach the beach of Samphire Hoe in Dover.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said “(you) can’t stop everything all of the time”, in response to the incidents. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command, said the failure to intercept the two boats was “not acceptable”.
