More than 200 migrants crossed Channel in three boats on Monday
Three small boats arrived with 206 people on board on Monday, the Home Office said, bringing the provisional total for 2024 to 19,294.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than 200 people crossed the English Channel in three boats on Monday, according to Home Office figures.
On August 19, 206 migrants crossed in three boats, suggesting an average of nearly 69 people per boat.
The latest figures take the provisional total for the year so far to 19,294.
This is a 10% increase on the figure recorded last year, which was 17,620.
We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk
But the latest figure is 10% down on 2022, when 21,344 crossings were recorded in the same period.
The largest number of crossings in a single day since the Labour Government took power was on August 11, when 703 people were recorded as arriving in the UK in 11 boats – suggesting an average of 64 people per boat.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.
“The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security, setting up a new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit.”
The Home Office is in the process of recruiting a Border Security Commander who will work with European partners to target the people-smuggling gangs behind the crossings.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.