Children found among group of migrants in Channel

Small boat crossings continued on Saturday as British Border Force escorted a group of suspected migrants from the Channel to Dover.

Among the group of about 50 people who were brought ashore from the first boat that docked were children.

Other border patrol vessels remained in the Channel.

The number of crossing attempts generally increases when weather conditions are favourable.

Figures from the Ministry of the Interior show that 342 people made the crossing in seven boats in the week up to and including Saturday.

In the seven days from July 15 to 21, the numbers were higher, with 1,499 people making the journey in 27 boats.

The Labour government has pledged to tackle the arrival of small boats by cracking down on people-smuggling gangs behind border crossings.

It has been said that a border command unit will be set up, in cooperation with European partners.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded on July 18 to the deaths of five people in two incidents in the Channel, saying it was “a chilling reminder of the human cost of this despicable trade”.

Published: 27/07/2024 by Radio NewsHub