Key facts
- Nearly 500 migrants arrived in the UK on Thursday, marking the first Channel crossings in 10 days.
- The arrivals occurred on seven small boats.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized continued enforcement and new legislation to deter illegal crossings.
- Migrant arrivals are down 43% year-on-year.
- A recent incident involved a 'mega dinghy' catching fire, with 173 people rescued.
Nearly 500 migrants arrived in the UK on Thursday, marking the first successful Channel crossings in 10 days. Seven vessels brought 494 people to Dover, Kent, ending a lull in arrivals that began on August 17.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that while numbers are down 43% year-on-year, she will not be complacent and has boosted enforcement on French beaches and introduced new legislation to tackle pull factors. Press Association analysis of government data shows 16,391 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year.
Earlier in the week, a 'mega dinghy' carrying 173 people caught fire in the English Channel. French authorities rescued 173 people, with no reported fatalities, though 11 suffered minor injuries. This incident was described as the largest single vessel to attempt a Channel crossing with migrants.
GB News estimates suggest over 300 migrants may have arrived on Thursday if all launched boats reached British waters, with weather conditions expected to remain calm enough for further crossings on Sunday. The five most common nationalities arriving via small boat are Eritrean, Sudanese, Afghan, Somali, and Iranian.