More than 250 migrants arrive in Dover as heatwave continues

More than 200 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK on Sunday, the same day a woman died off the coast of Calais after falling from an overcrowded rowing boat.

The woman died while attempting to reach the UK early on Sunday morning, with 255 people being taken in four boats to Dover.

People smugglers continued to take advantage of the warm, calm conditions today, with Border Force ships Defender and Volunteer seen ferrying migrants back to the port of Dover after they were intercepted at sea.

The group, which consisted mainly of men, were seen wearing orange life jackets as they were taken to the port’s western docks.

In July alone, seven migrants died in the Channel, the latest death bringing the death toll for the year to 23.

The woman was found unconscious by the French Maritime Prefect after a migrant boat got into trouble off the coast of Calais.

After being taken by French Navy helicopter to a hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, the woman was pronounced dead.

34 others were rescued from the rowing boat by authorities, although some chose to continue their journey to Britain.

A spokesman for the Maritime Prefecture said: ‘The Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea warns anyone considering crossing the Channel of the risks involved.

‘This maritime sector is one of the busiest areas in the world. More than 600 merchant ships pass through it every day and the weather conditions are often bad (120 days a year an average wind force of 7 or more). It is therefore a particularly dangerous sector, even when the sea appears calm.’

Yesterday’s arrivals bring the total number so far in 2024 to 16,457, a new record for the first seven months of a calendar year, preliminary figures from the Interior Ministry show.

The previous record for arrivals in the seven months from January to July was 16,420 in 2022.

In the first seven months of 2023, there were 14,732 arrivals.

The monthly data comes from the Home Office’s latest quarterly update on illegal migration to the UK, which presents the “definitive and authoritative statistics on small boat arrivals”.

In all of 2023, 29,437 people arrived, a 36% drop from the record 45,774 in 2022.

The rise in arrivals was debated in parliament today, with Reform UK’s Lee Anderson accusing France of being “complicit” in small boat crossings.

Speaking at Home Office questions, Mr Anderson (Ashfield) told the House of Commons: ‘Six boats crossed the Channel on Saturday, four more have been reported today, meaning more than 500 illegal migrants are being escorted into our waters by the French authorities.

‘Does the Home Secretary agree with me that now is the time to stop paying any more money to the French until they stop being complicit in this evil trade?’

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “These boat journeys are extremely dangerous. Another woman died yesterday in the Channel. Criminal gangs are deliberately cramming boats to maximise their profits. And they have been getting away with it for far too long.

‘That is why we need a new border control command, but also why we need to work together not only with the French police, but with police forces and organisations across Europe and beyond, to track down the gangs and prevent the boats from reaching the French coast in the first place.’