Number of migrants crossing Channel in small boats rises to 36,816

Home Office figures released connected New Year's Day amusement 36,816 radical crossed the English Channel successful tiny boats passim 2024, an summation connected the erstwhile year, but not arsenic galore arsenic successful 2022.

The past group, made up of 291 people, arrived connected 29 December.

The twelvemonth 2024 was the deadliest connected grounds for the crossings, according to a United Nations agency.

The authorities said it was moving with the French authorities to effort to halt the tiny boats.

The full for 2023 was 29,437 people, portion 2022 is inactive the busiest twelvemonth connected grounds with 45,774 arrivals.

More than 150,000 radical person made the travel since 2018.

According to French figures, 77 radical are known to person died attempting the crossing successful 2024.

Enver Solomon, main enforcement of the Refugee Council, said: "The grounds fig of deaths successful the Channel this twelvemonth should service arsenic a stark reminder that the existent attack is not working.

"More harmless and ineligible routes are needed to supply a lifeline for those fleeing warfare and persecution.

"The authorities needs to instrumentality a antithetic attack if it is to guarantee everything imaginable is done truthful that 2025 does not spot a repetition of past year's devastating loss."

A program by the erstwhile authorities to deport migrants arriving illegally successful the UK to Rwanda successful Africa was abandoned by Labour days aft the wide predetermination successful July 2024.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Every beingness mislaid astatine oversea is simply a tragedy, which is wherefore our efforts are focused connected redeeming lives, arsenic good arsenic protecting our borders.

"The radical smuggling gangs lone attraction astir nett and we are seeing their behaviour adapt, with much radical crammed into flimsy and unsafe boats.

"Our associated enactment with France successful preventing crossings is astir stopping radical putting themselves and others astatine risk."