More than 4,500 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats this year despite Rishi Sunak’s promise to crack down on the problem. The latest Home Office figures show 77 people in two boats risked the voyage on Thursday.
They followed 492 people on Wednesday, the year’s highest daily total and a figure which was revised up after it was first published. It brings the total number of people detected making crossing in small boats this year to 4,563 according to the provisional figures.
The total number of crossings last year was 45,755. The Prime Minister has promised to “stop the boats” as one of his five main priorities.
