Small boats carrying 49 migrants stopped from crossing English Channel into UK

Four small boats carrying 49 people have been intercepted as they crossed the English Channel from northern Europe.

French authorities stopped another 126 people travelling in eight boats, UK Immigration Minister Chris Philp said.

More than 8,000 people crossed into the UK from northern Europe in 2020, often navigating one of the world’s busiest shipping routes in overloaded dinghies.

An increase in maritime migration followed tighter controls at ferry ports and travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The surge in numbers caused a political headache for the UK government, which struck a series of deals with France to prevent the attempted crossings but failed to stem the numbers.

However, Mr Philp said that the French authorities had stopped more than 70 per cent of attempted Channel crossings this year.

“Criminals are exploiting migrants for profit and are selling false dreams of life in the UK,” he said. “That is why we are pursuing the facilitators behind these crossings, returning migrants who have no right to stay in the UK to safe countries and continuing to do everything we can to make this route unviable.

Published: February 23, 2021 02:03 PM