More than 2,000 small boat migrants cross Channel since New Year – ‘They’re taking even more risks!’

Last night, a Border Force ship brought at least 138 migrants to Dover. Since the start of the year, over 2,000 migrants have crossed illegally from France in small boats, according to an exclusive report by GB News.

This number was reached when the Border Force ship Typhoon arrived at Dover with at least 138 migrants on board. These migrants were picked up from two boats that entered UK waters on Tuesday evening. Earlier that day, another small boat with 24 migrants was stopped.

This boat had been involved in a dramatic rescue earlier after its engine failed in rough seas near Dunkirk, France. French authorities helped rescue 38 people from the boat, who were then taken back to Dunkirk for medical checks. However, 24 migrants refused to leave the boat, restarted the engine, and continued toward UK waters.

The UK government is working on a new law that will make it a crime for migrants to refuse rescue offers. Those who do could be charged with endangering others.

With Tuesday’s arrivals, the total number of migrants who have crossed illegally by small boat this year has reached at least 2,055. Bad weather in January and February has limited the number of days when smugglers can launch boats from French beaches.

The last crossings before yesterday happened 10 days ago on February 15, when 240 migrants reached UK waters in four small boats.

Maritime security sources have criticized smugglers for putting migrants in danger by sending boats out even in bad weather. Yesterday, French authorities rescued several migrant boats in trouble off the French coast.

A source told GB News that smugglers are taking more risks than usual, likely because winter storms have prevented them from launching boats for months. Some are now sending boats out even when the sea is rough.

Last year was the deadliest on record for Channel migrants, with at least 77 deaths. This year, two migrants have already died. In January, a Syrian man died on an overcrowded boat, and 60 others were rescued. Ten days ago, another migrant died when their overcrowded boat got into trouble near Calais.

The new Labour government has promised to crack down on smuggling gangs and has invested more resources in border security. The National Crime Agency has also received additional funding, which was redirected from the previous government’s Rwanda plan, now scrapped by Labour.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to stop dangerous small boat crossings, which risk lives and weaken border security. Smuggling gangs don’t care if the people they exploit live or die, as long as they get paid. We will do everything we can to stop these gangs and bring them to justice.”