Record 230 people cross Channel in one small boat

A small boat has crossed the English Channel carrying 230 people, the largest number to make the journey in a single vessel.

It breaks the previous record set in July, when 165 people made the crossing on a single vessel.

The boat arrived in the UK in the early hours of Monday.

A picture taken off the coast of northern France showed the inflatable boat was so full many passengers had to dangle their legs in the water as it entered the busy shipping route.

A Home Office spokesperson said this latest incident demonstrated the “reckless and dangerous tactics employed by criminal gangs… who continue to put lives at risk by cramming ever greater numbers of people onto unseaworthy vessels”.

There have been signs that smugglers are putting more and more people into each boat. In 2018, there was an average of seven people per boat – but last year, that had risen to 62.

On Tuesday, 173 migrants had to be rescued from a single boat, which caught fire.

However, the number of crossings overall is on course to be lower this year.

So far, the number of migrants who have made the crossing is down by 43%. The number of boats that have successfully crossed is down by 49%.

Last month, the Home Office recorded the lowest number of crossings in July since 2020.

Officials think this is partly because they have managed to disrupt the supply of small boats and engines to the people smugglers, with 1,100 seized since Labour came to power.

Officials claim that with the sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance operation now operating over the Channel, “unintercepted” beach landings have ended.

All boats that make it across the halfway point in the Channel are met at sea by Border Force, which then brings the migrants safely ashore for processing.

There is still clear demand for the crossings as the number of people waiting in camps in northern France has not reduced. At the same time, weather conditions have not been significantly different this year.

Officials believe this shows their work to disrupt the smuggling gangs is beginning to show results. Despite this, concerns persist about the numbers still able to make it across the Channel.

Ten people have been sentenced for endangering lives at sea since a new law designed to target people who pilot small boats came into force in January.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said: “We’ve seen today some appalling images… of young babies being put into these unseaworthy craft… shocking images, and they show the reality behind the ruthless smuggling gangs that are prepared to risk human lives for profit…”

“As the prime minister has said, we’re not complacent and we are bearing down on these crossings, and that’s reflected in the joint action that’s prevented 47,000 attempted crossings since the election.”

The English Channel is one of the most dangerous, and busiest, shipping lanes in the world.

Many migrants come from some of the poorest and most chaotic parts of the world, and ask to claim asylum once they are picked up by the UK authorities.

On a recent visit to Dover, the prime minister pledged his government would be “relentless” in curbing the number of small boat arrivals.

Andy Burnham said enforcement officers tackling people-smuggling gangs had been doubled on both sides of the Channel, but “a system that offers safe routes for people” needed to be built as well.

In April, the UK and France struck a £662m (773m euro) deal aiming to address the issue.

The three-year agreement included plans to send riot-trained police to French beaches to tackle violence and “hostile crowds”, as well as France deploying millions of pounds worth of drones and two helicopters as part of a system to intercept people smugglers and illegal migrants.

On X, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “At 2.30am this morning a boat carrying 230 people was taken into Dover.

“This is a record number in a single vessel.

“It’s yet more proof that this illegal invasion is a national security emergency.”

Earlier on Monday, a Home Office spokesperson said: “We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.

“But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.”

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, on Instagram, external and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.