Channel crossings continue as more migrants arrive in Kent

More than 14,900 migrants have made the crossing to the UK so far this year.
A Border Force vessel intercepts a group of people thought to be migrants in a small boat off the coast of Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)
PA Wire
Flora Thompson17 September 2021

More migrants have arrived in the UK for the fifth consecutive day this week after crossing the English Channel.

A man carrying a young child on his shoulders – who was wrapped in a blanket and wearing a woollen hat – were among a group of people seen arriving in Dover on Friday amid bright and breezy conditions at sea.

At least 655 migrants have arrived in the UK since Monday after making the journey across busy shipping lanes from France.

A man carrying a baby wrapped in blanket was among a group who were brought ashore in Kent on Friday (Gareth Fuller/PA)
PA Wire

The crossings continued as Home Secretary Priti Patel was seen meeting Border Force officers in the Kent port town on Thursday.

But the numbers so far are substantially lower than the week before.

A new record was set for the year so far when 1,959 people made the crossing in the week to September 10 – the highest total for any seven-day period in 2021, according to data compiled and analysed by the PA news agency.

At least 14,900 people have crossed to the UK on board small boats this year.

The total for 2021 so far is already more than 6,500 higher than the number of people who made the crossing in 2020.

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