Migrant Channel crossings continue as 2,000 arrive in wake of Rwanda laws

More than 2,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since the Government’s voluntary relocation scheme became law.

The figures come as Channel crossings continued after a steady stream of arrivals over the bank holiday weekend.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration)Act, aimed at getting deportation flights to Rwanda off the ground, received Royal Assent on 25th April.

Since then 2,007 migrants arriving in the UK in 40 boats, according to official Home Office figures.

The data includes 396 people that made the perilous journey in eight boats from Saturday to Monday, taking the provisional total for the year so far to 8,674.

The figure is up 35% on this time last year, when 6,415 Channel crossings were recorded and a 14% rise on the 7,581 in 2022 , figures show.

Children were among those pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, on Tuesday, amid calm conditions at sea.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the UK was “absolutely” getting value for money from its multimillion-pound deals with France in a bid to curb crossings.

The French authorities were facing “increasing challenges and violence as the people smuggling gangs look for new routes to evade the authorities”, he added.

Other figures now being published on a daily basis by the Home Office indicate 1,048 migrants have been prevented from arriving in the UK after attempting to make the journey from France since 29 April.

The Home Office said data on preventions – made public for the first time over the weekend – are “estimates” and prone to “measurement error”.

The figures include people who are prevented from leaving France or those who return to the country.

But it is not clear whether the numbers include repeat attempts by migrants to cross the Channel.

The department also stressed numbers on arrivals and preventions are “not directly comparable”.

A Home Office statement reads: "Data on preventions are estimates based on an operational snapshot collected by French authorities, which at the time of publication have not been verified (and are likely therefore to be subject to revision).

"In addition, and in contrast to measuring arrivals in the UK, prevention activity is inherently likely to be subject to a relatively high degree of measurement error."

A department spokesman said: “The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.

“We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys.

"Last year they stopped 26,000 people from reaching our shores.

“We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats.”

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