New record for arrivals on single small boat after 230 migrants land in UK

A record 230 migrants have arrived in the UK on a single small boat, underscoring a change in tactics by people smugglers.

The Home Office confirmed the arrival of the vessel at the Western Docks in Dover in the early hours of this morning.

It comes less than a week after another boat containing 173 people caught on fire in the English Channel, with all being returned to France after being rescued.

Today’s crossing shatters the previous record of 165 migrants making it across to UK shores, set in July.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘This latest incident demonstrates the reckless and dangerous tactics employed by the criminal gangs facilitating these crossings, who continue to put lives at risk by cramming ever greater numbers of people onto unseaworthy vessels.

‘We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.

‘But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.’

Last week, Dr Mihnea Cuibus of Oxford University’s Migration Observatory told Metro the increase in numbers per boat was part of a long-term trend, with the average growing from 20 or 30 at the beginning of the crisis to around 90 now.

He said: ‘In theory, you could look at that sort of that sort of pattern, that shift in smuggler behavior, and one way to interpret it is that it is indicative of them struggling to secure enough boats and enough equipment.’

The expert added: ‘We’re seeing this year more and more boats leaving from Belgium as opposed to France, which is a much longer journey.

‘Again, it could be suggestive of the fact that it just has become a bit harder to operate on some of these French beaches because of the increased enforcement.’

As of yesterday, the number of small boat arrivals in the UK was down 42% compared to the same period last year.

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