More than 300 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on D-Day as people smugglers 'take advantage' of 80th anniversary
Hundreds of migrants crossed the channel in small boats yesterday amidst D-Day's 80th anniversary as the people smugglers 'take advantage' of the situation.
Home Office figures show 316 men, women and children were picked up in five dinghies on Thursday with 84 having to be rescued including a baby when their packed inflatable capsized mid Channel.
The smuggling gangs have been taking advantage of the D-Day commemorations by launching the perilous crossings while world leaders attended historic events along the French coast in Normandy.
Yesterday's numbers takes the provisional total for 2024 to 11,095.
This is up 46 per cent on the number recorded this time last year (7,610) and 11 per cent higher than the same point in 2022 (9,984).
Yesterday's numbers takes the provisional total for 2024 to 11,095
Home Office figures show 316 men, women and children were picked up in five dinghies on Thursday with 84 having to be rescued including a baby when their packed inflatable capsized mid Channel. Pictured: RNLI lifeboat in Dover yesterday
Pictures from Dover appear to show the rescued migrants - including the small children (pictured the children being carried to shore yesterday)
All of the migrants arriving yesterday were brought into the Port of Dover in Kent on Border Force vessels.
Small children were seen being carried up the gangway at the immigration processing centre at the western docks on Thursday after the major rescue operation involving British and French vessels.
Miraculously there were no casualties in the latest incident with all on board accounted for.
A number of children were caught up in the incident including a six-month-old.
All were taken on coaches to the immigration holding centre at Manston near Ramsgate, Kent.
So far this year 14 people are known to have died making the crossing.
The total of migrants intercepted making the crossing so far this year now stands at 11,095 in 225 boats.
The small boat capsized after setting off from Calais. Up the French coast, world leaders came together to commemorate the D-Day landings
The smuggling gangs have been taking advantage of the D-Day commemorations by launching the perilous crossings while world leaders (pictured) attended historic events along the French coast in Normandy
Rishi Sunak, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron during the wreath laying at the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion's commemorative to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6
A baby and small children are among over 80 migrants who have been brought shore after a small boat capsized in the English Channel
Border Force vessel Defender was mid channel during the rescue operation yesterday, according the Marine Traffic website. Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent
This compares to 9,954 in the same period in 2022 - in what became a record year with a total of migrants picked up in small boats standing at 45,755.
And at this point in 2023 only 7,610 had been intercepted.
A total of 29,437 were picked up in 601 boats in 2023.
More than 1,000 arrivals have now been recorded since the General Election was called on May 22 (1,213), with immigration a key campaign battleground.
In the last six and a half years as the recent migrant crisis unfolded, 125,440 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel, data recorded since the start of 2018 shows.
Some 80,459 people have made the journey since the Government struck the stalled deal to send migrants to Rwanda in April 2022.
The tally of crossings since Rishi Sunak, who pledged to 'stop the boats', became Prime Minister in October that year now stands at 48,158.
A group of migrants spotted on Gravelines Beach, near Calais, yesterday morning
Meanwhile, the French authorities are currently dealing with a large number of other migrants attempting to make the crossing - with reports the French police have used tear gas
The tally of crossings since Rishi Sunak (pictured in Dover last June), who pledged to 'stop the boats', became Prime Minister in October that year now stands at 48,158
Three children, including a baby, were reportedly among those brought ashore to safety after the incident off the Kent coast on Thursday morning which saw the coastguard and lifeboat crews called to help Border Force.
Some of those rescued are thought to have been pulled from the water after their boat is said to have capsized.
The coastguard later confirmed the search had ended with 'all people accounted for and back on land'.
The figures suggest there was an average of 63 people crossing the Channel to the UK per boat on Thursday.
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock accused Mr Sunak of making 'false' claims on cutting the number of migrant arrivals, branding it a 'desperate attempt to pull the wool over voters' eyes'.
'Under Rishi Sunak and the Tories, the number of small boat crossings in the Channel just keeps on going up,' he added as he claimed Labour had a 'comprehensive plan' to curb crossings.
Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock accused Mr Sunak of making 'false' claims on cutting the number of migrant arrivals, branding it a 'desperate attempt to pull the wool over voters' eyes'
Rishi Sunak during a press conference in the Downing Street Briefing Room on his plan to 'stop the boats' in December
A Home Office spokesman said: 'We continue to work closely with our French partners to prevent crossings and save lives.'
The boat which capsized yesterday was believed to have set off from Calais, before getting into difficulty and sending out a mayday to the Coastguard.
A huge rescue operation was launched, with helicopters and lifeboats scrambled to pull people out of the water.
The group were then seen being brought to shore before lunch time in Dover, where they are now being processed.
In recent days a number of dinghies have attempted to make the dangerous 20 mile journey from France to England. Yesterday saw at least three attempted crossings by giant dinghies - two witnessed by the Mail.
And on Wednesday the Mail saw two dinghies set off. In total four boats with 234 migrants onboard reached England on Tuesday, June 4.
June 3 saw one boat containing 63 people get across - and all this compared to zero crossing over the five previous days.
While police were around, the dinghy surge coincided with hundreds of officers being diverted from Channel patrols around Calais to Normandy, where heads of state including King Charles and American president Joe Biden are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1944.
The massive security operation started in Normandy on Monday, and will continue through to the weekend.
Group of migrants seen in the water off the coast of France. Around 80 migrants are understood to have been rescued after a boat got into difficulty while crossing the Channel
French police entering the water with tear gas yesterday
Migrants off the coast of France yesterday. Government figures reveal that in past week alone, 331 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats
A small boat off the coast of France with a French police officer in the water nearby yesterday
A deflated dinghy on a beach near Calais yesterday
Two migrants and a child are seen returning to the sand dunes after their dinghy was punctured by French police yesterday
Migrants give up for the day after their dinghy was sunk near Gravelines beach, France, yesterday
A French emergency services source based near Calais said yesterday: 'President Macron began the commemorations in Normandy today, which is also when Mr Biden arrived in France.
'Including soldiers, there will have been some 45,000 security officials in Normandy. This naturally means a reduction elsewhere.
'It certainly appears that those launching the boats are attempting to take advantage of the reduction in police numbers on the coast around Calais and Dunkirk'.
French authorities have been photographed dealing with a large number of other migrants trying to make the perilous crossing, with reports of police using tear gas against them.
French migrant charity Utopia 56 had a van waiting for them by the beach, and dished out dry clothes and foil blankets to thwarted migrants including a three-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.
Paid charity co-ordinator Thomas Chambon told the Mail: 'We have complained about the police using tear-gas and slashing boats – and they have said since they will not touch migrants if they have even one foot wet.
'But what has happened today shows they still do it. And most of the people who drown do so not in the middle of the Channel but in the first 300 metres from shore.
'Even when the police do stop migrants though, they sometimes tell them 'You will have more chance tomorrow'.
'And this Rwanda policy in England that has been talked about for two years? The numbers of migrants are bigger than ever before, they are not wanted on mainland Europe and have nowhere else to go.'
Among the migrants trudging back to camp was Iranian Kurd baker Kamo, 27.
He has paid Euros 2,000 for his place, but has been thwarted three times by police, with yesterday's boat-slashing his latest disruption.
Kamo was undeterred, saying: 'The police today went into the sea up to their chests and slashed the dinghy.
'Families with kids, everyone on board, all went into the water. They were scared.
'I don't know why it happened today. Often, the police are helping migrants. Maybe they didn't like there being so many boats.
'Britain's plan to send people to Rwanda is deterring some migrants – I've been in the camp three weeks and am told there were more people a few months ago.
'But I'm just going to wait for another taxi-boat. In England I'll have a better job and life.'
British and French vessel were sent out to assist the boat yesterday morning - which is believed to have gotten into difficulty halfway between Dover and Calais.
The migrants had been trying to sail across the Channel to Dover when their dinghy was sunk yesterday
The Dover lifeboat as well as an RNLI Rhib could be seen mid channel off the Cap Griz Nez on the French coast.
Border Force vessel Defender was also mid channel, according the Marine Traffic website.
Defender, as well as Border Force vessel Ranger, have since been spotted at the immigration processing centre in the Western docks at the Port of Dover, Kent.
Two large coaches are parked up inside the compound waiting nearby while an ambulance also remained on standby near the tent.
People could be seen walking around inside the fenced off area used to process small boat arrivals, with the large gate occasionally opening to allow cars to leave.
Around lunchtime, it was reported that one coach had left the compound and drove northbound heading for the immigration holding centre at Manston near Ramsgate, Kent.
Three coaches have left the holding area set up on the harbourside. The third left the fenced area at 4.10pm.
It remains unconfirmed how the ship got into trouble.
The operation to rescue the occupants of a small boat crossing the Channel has now concluded with 'all people accounted for and back on land', a Coastguard spokesperson said.
They said: 'HM Coastguard has been coordinating the response to a small boat incident in the Channel this morning, June 6.
'Coastguard helicopters from Lydd and Lee-on-Solent, RNLI lifeboats and Border Force were sent.
'The search has now concluded with all people accounted for and back on land.'
The RNLI said: 'Dover RNLI all-weather lifeboat and Walmer inshore lifeboat were tasked by HM Coastguard to launch this morning (6 June) to an incident in the English Channel.'
Charity the International Rescue Committee UK said: 'This is yet another completely preventable incident in the English Channel and a reminder that deterrence policies don't work.
'People will continue to put their lives at risk if they feel they have no other choice.
If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing 'new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion' and 'deeper security co-operation with Europe'
Nigel Farage has been leading a resurgent Reform Party on the policy of stopping the boats
'The government must scale up safe routes to ensure fewer people are forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place - resettlement schemes, a refugee visa and family reunion schemes are more effective and humane alternatives that would offer orderly routes to protection for refugees.'
A Home Office spokesman said: 'We continue to work closely with our French partners to prevent crossings and save lives.'
Since the government announced its controversial Rwanda scheme more than 80,000 migrants have successfully made the journey. Sir Keir Starmer has said he will cancel the scheme 'straight away' if Labour wins.
If Labour win the upcoming General Election, they have pledged to tackle the migrant crisis by pursuing 'new agreements with France and other countries on returns and family reunion' and 'deeper security co-operation with Europe'.
However, Home Office insiders have told the Mail that similar request for new returns agreements have been rejected by the French government.
In total over 125,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in the last six-and-a-half years as the recent crisis unfolded.
