Children among migrants arriving in Kent after being rescued from English Channel

Children were among the people brought ashore in Dover, Kent, after crossing the English Channel – less than a week since the highest number of migrant arrivals was recorded for 2024.

Border Force vessels arrived into the Kent port carrying large numbers of people, including young children who could be seen with blankets as they were supported by staff.

The arrivals come as 4,306 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, according to Home Office data.

This compares with 3,770 people by the same date last year.

Last Wednesday, 514 people made the journey in 10 boats, making it the busiest day on record for 2024 so far.

It marked the highest number of crossings in the month of March since records began, and the highest daily figure since 2 December.

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Video appears to show French police using aggressive tactics against small boats carrying migrants across Channel

More than 500 migrants cross English Channel on Wednesday, provisional statistics show

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted his plan to “stop the boats” is working despite the higher numbers of recorded arrivals so far this year than in the first three months of 2023.

The crossings also come as the Government’s Rwanda Bill remains stuck in parliamentary limbo after a series of further defeats in the Lords.

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MPs are not scheduled to debate it again until after Westminster returns from its Easter break.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats”.

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