Record number of Illegal Channel Migrants cross as French warn of gun smuggling in boats

More than 800 illegal migrants crossed the English Channel to the UK on Saturday which is a record amount.

The Home Office said nearly 200 people making the trip were also stopped by the French authorities. According to official statistics over 12,500 have made the crossing this year that is known.

Officials say there are safe and legal routes for migrants and they were working with international partners to tackle the “dangerous crossings”.

The Home Office said the UK authorities rescued or intercepted 828 people in 30 small boats on Saturday, while the French prevented 193 people in 10 boats from reaching Britain.

This comes as French intelligence indicates that weapons are now being smuggled across the channel in these boats.

The previous highest number of migrants to cross the Channel in one day was on 12 August, when 592 people made the journey.

Dan O’Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: “These dangerous crossings from safe EU countries are completely unnecessary and we are determined to take down the evil criminal gangs behind them.”

-->