First Channel migrants of 2024 arrive on small boats after 26-day lull

The first group of migrants of 2024 arrived in Dover within the early hours of this morning after crossing the English Channel on small boats.

This marks the tip of a 26-day break in crossings over the Christmas interval, with poor climate circumstances doubtlessly contributing to the dearth of exercise at sea.

No arrivals have been recorded since December 16, in response to Home Office figures.

This morning, a bunch of individuals believed to be migrants have been pictured being dropped at shore in Dover, Kent, within the morning.

They have been seen arriving in a Border Force vessel, which picked them up following a small boat incident within the Channel.

A bunch of individuals considered migrants are introduced in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident within the Channel within the early hours of this morning

The arrivals mark the tip of a 26-day break in crossings over the Christmas interval, with poor climate circumstances doubtlessly contributing to the dearth of exercise at sea

A person in a wheelchair is introduced ashore by the Border Force this morning following a small boat incident

The group, which seems to be of no less than 20 largely younger males, have been introduced ashore by a Border Force boat.

They have been sporting orange life vests and a few had been handed foil blankets to maintain heat

Previously there have been 26 days of no crossings to the UK recorded up till January 11.

This was the longest hole in small boat arrivals for 5 years, beating the earlier report of 25 consecutive days with none crossings from February 8 to March 3 2020. 

The provisional annual whole for 2023, 29,437, is 36% decrease than the report 45,774 crossings for the entire of 2022.

It remains to be the second highest annual whole on report, above the determine for 2021 (28,526).

The break in migrants making an attempt the journey, which got here to an finish this morning, was the longest of its form since a hiatus of 48 days between September 2 and October 19 2018. 

The variety of migrants crossing the Channel has fallen year-on-year for the primary time since present data started in 2018, with the entire arrivals in 2023 down greater than a 3rd on 2022.

And for the primary time in 5 years, no Channel crossings came about on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Home Secretary James Cleverly insisted the climate was not a ‘contributory issue’ to falling migrant crossings when questioned final week, highlighting how the variety of good crusing days recorded by officers for the yr was solely 4 fewer than the earlier interval.

The lower was as a substitute due to cooperation with Europe, disrupting the provision chain of engines and boats, and ‘going after the cash of those folks smugglers’, he mentioned, because the Government argued the figures have been proof of the UK’s £480 million settlement with France to beef up efforts to cease migrants making the journey beginning to repay and the effectiveness of a fast-track returns deal struck with Albania.

But the Immigration Services Union, which represents border workers, mentioned the drop in arrivals was more likely to be a ‘glitch’, with ‘increased numbers’ of Channel crossings anticipated this yr.

Mr Cleverly additionally set himself a goal of assembly Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ‘cease the boats’ pledge by the tip of the yr – a deadline Downing Street later refused to repeat.

The Border Force vessel picked up the migrants within the Channel this morning from small boats

The group of migrants are introduced ashore this morning after being picked up within the Channel

The BF Defender cutter brings a bunch of migrants ashore from the Channel this morning

The Home Secretary instructed LBC that in 2024 ‘my goal is to cut back it to zero to cease the boats and I’m unambiguous about that’.

Commenting yesterday earlier than the 26-day streak of no crossings was damaged, a Home Office spokesperson mentioned: ‘Our precedence is to cease the boats, which is why we now have taken strong motion to crackdown on vile folks smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making harmful crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels.

‘This relentless motion lowered crossings by 36% final yr, which noticed related climate circumstances to 2022, and greater than 26,000 makes an attempt have been prevented.

‘These figures are a testomony to the powerful measures we now have launched, the arduous work of our devoted Border Force officers and our work with French counterparts.’

UK Border Force workers and safety officers escort migrants, the primary to be picked up at sea making an attempt to cross the Channel from France in 2024, on the Marina in Dover this morning

The Border Force compound in Dover the place the group of migrants have been introduced at the moment

Two individuals who crossed the Channel this morning wrapped in towels after being picked up by the Border Force

The group of migrants being pushed away from the Border Force compound in Dover