A total of 607 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday, August 13, in 14 boats, taking the number of migrants crossing the English Channel to more than 20,000 this year
According to the Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom (U.K.), a total of 607 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday, i.e., August 13, 2022, in 14 boats, taking the total number of migrants crossing the English Channel to more than 20,000 this year.
This is the third time more than 600 people have crossed the English Channel. In 2021, 28,526 migrants crossed the English Channel. These figures do not include those who arrive in the U.K. undetected, or where there have been reports of people making the crossing, but there have been no actual encounters.
A Government Spokesman said, “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. Since the introduction of the Act, 23 people have been arrested.”
In April 2022, the Government announced plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda in a bid to deter migrants. Earlier this year, 47 people were told they would be flown the 4,000 miles (6,500 kms.) to Rwanda and a flight was booked for June 14, 2022. However, after a series of legal challenges and a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, the flight was cancelled. A Report from the Home Affairs Committee report also found the Rwanda scheme to be ineffective.
The Report read, “There is no clear evidence that the policy will deter migrant crossings – numbers have significantly increased since it was announced in April.”
The MPs concluded that the number of migrants crossing the English Channel is not reducing could be attributed to scaremongering from people traffickers, that it will become difficult to cross English Channel in future owing to changes in regulations.
There have been 3,618 crossings this month, with 1,694 in the past week. The highest number of daily crossings was recorded on August 1, 2022, when 686 people crossed the English Channel in 14 boats.
Saturday’s 607 crossings also involved 14 boats – the equivalent of around 43 people per vessel.
The calm weather is thought to have been a factor in the recent increase in numbers. However, one group working with refugees in Calais Port in France said it heard people smugglers had lowered their prices, as rival groups tried to achieve dominance in the market.
BBC South-East had earlier reported that suspected people smugglers are using TikTok to advertise illegal entry to the U.K. via the English Channel. A lot of gangs have been boasting that they are the best operators for crossing the English Channel.
