More than 20,000 migrants will arrive in the UK via the Channel this year, figures show – The Irish News

Latest figures show that more than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the UK this year after crossing the Channel.

On Wednesday, 614 people made the journey in 10 boats, bringing the provisional total for 2024 to 20,433.

This is 3% higher than at the same time in 2023 (19,801) and 18% lower than 2022 (25,065), according to an analysis of government data by the PA.

It is the second highest number of arrivals in a single day since the general election, after 703 arrivals on August 11.

The highest number ever this year was 882, on June 18.

Figures from the Ministry of the Interior show that border crossings were still ongoing on Thursday morning.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which undermine border security and put lives at risk.

“The new Government is taking steps to improve our border security by establishing a new Border Security Command that will bring together our intelligence and law enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terrorism powers and hundreds of staff based in the UK and abroad to help defeat criminal smuggling gangs that are making millions in profits.”