More than 20,000 migrants have crossed Channel in small boats this year, government figures reveal

More than 20,000 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year, Government figures show.

Some 607 were detected on Saturday – the third time the total has topped 600 since the start of 2022.

It takes the provisional total for the year to 20,017. 

By this point last year, just over 11,300 crossings had been made – although there was a spike in the latter few months of the year which brought the total to 28,526 crossings.

There have been 3,618 crossings detected in August so far, with 1,694 in the past week, according to the Ministry of Defence.

A woman using a walking aid and accompanied by a young girl was among those taken in for processing at Dover yesterday

Yesterday the Border Force picked up 607 people who made the crossings in 14 boats – the equivalent of around 43 people per vessel

The highest daily total for this year was recorded on August 1, when 696 people made the crossing in 14 boats.

Yesterday the Border Force picked up 607 people who made the crossing in 14 boats – the equivalent of around 43 people per vessel.

The highest number of crossings in a single day was on November 11 last year, when 1,185 people arrived in the UK on small boats.

Leaked figures revealed that Albanians currently make up the largest ethnic group of those making the crossings. Migrants from the Balkan country now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France with 1,075 Albanians arriving in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.

Border Force officials escorted migrants to Dover Docks after they crossed the English Channel on Tuesday morning

Among the latest arrivals on Tuesday were at least four small children — two of which were led along the gangway for processing by a female soldier who held their hands

MPs demand Rwanda plan be restarted as soon as possible as traffickers ‘trick migrants into racing to Britain before Boris Johnson is replaced’ 

The Rwanda scheme was championed by Home Secretary Priti Patel

Albanian migrants are being conned by ruthless human traffickers into making dangerous Channel crossings before Britain’s next Prime Minister takes office.

Those making the perilous journey are being warned a new leader will halt all crossings with patrols, while also dropping their charges from £10,000 to £2,000.

MPs last night called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain. 

Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country – a Nato member that wants to join the EU – now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France. 

The escalation saw 1,075 Albanians arrive in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12. 

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians. 

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – now eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.

Tory backbenchers have called on the next prime minister to act urgently. 

Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, said: ‘It’s clear many Albanians coming to the UK in small boats are not fleeing from war or persecution – they are economic migrants. 

‘This is blatant criminality and it underlines the urgency of getting on with Rwanda and similar schemes.’

The number of people making the perilous journey while navigating busy shipping lanes has increased steadily in recent years.

Some 299 were detected in 2018, followed by 1,843 in 2019, 8,466 in 2020 and 28,526 last year, official figures show.

Despite the growing numbers, the UK’s small boat arrivals are a fraction of the number of people going to Europe.

Data from the UN’s refugee agency shows at least 120,441 people arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean by land and sea in 2021.

A Government spokesperson has previously said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.

‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.

‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’