Migrant boat brought to UK coast by Border Force as Channel Crossings set to soar | UK | News
According to reports, the migrants reached the shores of England accompanied by the Border Force. A Border Force boat was seen in the pictures, with hundreds of people allegedly expected to cross the Channel this weekend due to good weather conditions. The ship is thought to have been halfway across the English Channel this morning, intercepting a small boat leaving the French coast of Gravelines just after 8am this morning.
A ship like the one seen on GB News’ feed can carry up to 100 people, the broadcaster reported. At 12.40, it was stated that 79 immigrants had arrived in the last hour. It comes after it was reported yesterday that migrants had reached the UK after crossing the English Channel for the first time in nearly two weeks. Pictures showed people in life jackets being taken from the Border Guard ship in Dover, Kent.
The end of recent bad weather has allowed several crossing attempts to be launched on Friday, with temperatures expected to rise over the bank holiday weekend.
The crossing is the first since May 9, and more than 1,000 people have arrived so far this month.
The number of arrivals is down 44% compared to this time last year, and is down 23% compared to the same point in 2024.
Experts said this could be due to a number of different factors, including weather, the supply of small boat parts, government policy and the number of migrants arriving in Europe.
It comes after it was revealed that net migration in the UK fell to an estimated 171,000 last year; this is the lowest level since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Figures for the 12 months to December were down 48% on the previous year (331,000), according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The estimate, the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving the country, has fallen below 200,000 for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
