A total of 235 suspected illegal migrants were intercepted crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the Home Office confirmed – a new record for a single day.
Thursday’s figure breaks the record number set only a week ago, when 202 people crossed in 24 hours.
In total, 17 vessels were apprehended by The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Border Force units.
Including Thursday’s total, 3,948 people have crossed the Channel in more than 300 boats so far this year.
The Home Office has not supplied a breakdown of genders or nationalities of those who were intercepted.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is looking at introducing Royal Navy patrols of the channel, which would have the power to send illegal boats back, a Home Office source told the Daily Mail.
Regarding, reports the Royal Navy could be used to patrol the Channel, Chancellor Rishi Sunak told Sky News: “I wouldn’t want to speculate on exactly what measures will be put in place.
“It’s important that we work closely with our French allies on this situation.
“Obviously France is a safe country for migrants to be, we all want to see these crossings reduced and, pending the outcomes of those conversations [in France] we can decide on the best next steps to take.”
Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said he shared “the anger and frustration of the public at the appalling number of crossings” on Thursday.
Mr Philip told Sky News: “I share the anger and frustration of the public at the appalling number of crossings we have seen.
“The crossings are totally unacceptable and unnecessary as France is a safe country. We have to make the route completely unviable. Then migrants will have no incentive to come to northern France or attempt the crossing in the first place.”
Authorities had been warned another significant influx of small boat crossings are likely to occur as weather conditions between France and England improve over the next few days.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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