Migrants arrive in UK as Patel plans tighter asylum rules

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Yesterday saw the highest daily number of migrants crossing the channel this year so far, at 209 from nine different boats. It puts 2021’s total of those crossing the Channel at nearly three times higher than it was at this point last year.

The Home Office said another 166 people were prevented from crossing into England by French authorities.

So far, at least 1,977 people have reached the UK by boat this year.

The previous daily record for attempted migrant crossings this year had been 183 on March 23.

By the same point in 2020, fewer than 1,000 people had made the crossing.

Last year saw 8,410 people reached the UK in small boats, after a surge in attempts over the summer.

In a statement, the Home Office said they are working to “break the business model of people smugglers who put lives at risk by facilitating dangerous journeys”.

They added: “We are working closely with our partners in France to stop migrants from leaving French beaches.

“We acknowledge there is more work to be done, which is why we are bringing forward our new plan for immigration to break the business model of people smugglers…and overhaul our broken asylum system.”

It comes as authorities flagged concerns there will be a rise in crossings this summer.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) plans to issue a formal alert today to the maritime industry, warning it to be vigilant for people smugglers trying to obtain small boats.

The NCA also warned that since Covid lockdown measures were imposed last March, the number of migrants attempting to enter the UK using small boats has rocketed.

Miles Bonfield, the NCA’s head of organised immigration crime operations, said: “Crossing the Channel in vessels like these is extremely dangerous and life threatening — but the organised crime groups don’t care about safety, they just see migrants as a commodity to be exploited.”

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