More than 2,000 migrants on small boats have arrived within the UK in July
More than 2,000 migrants have arrived in the UK on small boats since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, as 228 were brought to shore just this weekend.
British Border Vessels intercepted hundreds of migrants crossing the Channel on Saturday morning, including one group in a suspected stolen yacht.
Two hundred and twenty eight people were brought into the Port of Dover, taking the total for July up to 2,228 in 39 boats.
It comes as human trafficking gangs are now using the small watercrafts to transport people across. The single-masted yacht was seen tied up next to Border Force catamaran Hurricane as it came into the harbour at the Western docks this morning.
Large numbers of men as well as women and children were brought up the gangway at the immigration processing centre yesterday, all wearing orange life jackets.
So far this year, 15,617 people in 3,098 boats have been intercepted and rescued.
A MailOnline graph showing the number of migrants crossing the channel on small boats since the beginning of July
A group of migrants walking up the gangway at the immigration processing centre yesterday
The yacht used to bring migrants into Dover by the people smuggling gangs in northern France
A total of 413 migrants made the treacherous journey in seven boats last Friday following a deadly week in which six people died in three separate incidents.
A migrant died in the early hours on Friday, taking the total number to have died so far this year to 22 people.
Just before 1am French authorities launched a rescue mission just off the coast of Calais.
Passengers on the overloaded boat with 86 people on board, initially refused help from French authorities.
But, at 0.58am, they requested assistance after five people fell into the water, and they were recovered.
But French authorities said one person died.
Border Force agents secure the yacht in the port at Dover after guiding it to safety from the sea
A MailOnline graphic detailing the number of migrants crossing the channel on small boats since 2019
All 85 migrants who survived the ordeal were returned to Calais and were treated by emergency services there.
On Tuesday night, one person drowned after a boat carrying 72 people was shipwrecked.
A joint operation between French and British authorities saw the surviving 71 people rescued and returned to Calais.
This was the first time since small boat crossings began that a British Border Force boat returned migrants to France, rather than the UK.
On July 12, four people were drowned when a boat loaded with 60 people deflated.
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.’
