More migrants have crossed Channel in small boats so far this year than in whole of 2023, figures show | UK News

More migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year than in the whole of 2023, Home Office figures show.

It comes after 424 people crossed the Channel yesterday, taking the 2024 total up to now to 29,578.

In 2023, a total of 29,437 migrants made the perilous crossing.

In 2022, 45,728 people crossed.

It comes as the French coastguard said it rescued 76 migrants in three boats on Thursday after they got into difficulty while attempting the crossing. They were taken back to Calais but several others on two boats refused assistance.

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