Migrant Channel crossings top 25,000 for year so far

More than 25,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year.

Home Office figures show 717 people made the journey in 13 boats on Sunday, taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 25,052.

This is the third highest number of arrivals recorded on a single day this year, after 882 on June 18 and 801 on September 14.

It also means 1,424 Channel crossings took place this weekend, after another 707 people arrived on Saturday in 11 boats.

The total for the year so far is up 4% on this time last year (23,996) but 21% lower than the same period in 2022 (31,686).

Crossings continued for a third day in a row on Monday, amid overcast and windy weather conditions at sea. Photos showed people wearing life jackets and some wrapped in blankets being brought ashore by Border Force in Dover, Kent.

Published: 23/09/2024 by Radio NewsHub