The UK faced another surge of migrants crossing the English Channel on Friday, with at least 800 people making the journey in small boats, according to GB News.
This comes after a frustrating week in which only two migrants were returned to France under the government’s repatriation efforts.
After nine days of windy weather had prevented crossings, conditions improved overnight, prompting people smugglers around Calais and Dunkirk to launch multiple small boats into the Channel.
Hundreds of migrants were seen wading waist-deep into the water to board the vessels.
The first Border Force vessel of the day, the Typhoon, arrived in Dover around 10 a.m., carrying 166 people intercepted from two migrant boats. These were the first arrivals since 188 migrants crossed on September 10th. Border Force officials are reportedly braced for “a significant day of migrant activity.”
Separately, cabinet minister Peter Kyle emphasized that the armed forces should remain focused on defence, after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested military intervention to manage illegal migration.
Kyle said:
Well, what he suggested was the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force that is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered and have new powers under this Government. The Navy actually does have a working relationship with the UK Border Force, and the Navy can be called upon if needed.
Onlookers expressed frustration, with one British tourist declaring, “Where are the police? They’re doing nothing.”
With weather conditions now expected to remain favourable, further crossings are likely in the coming days, continuing to challenge the UK’s repatriation and border control efforts.
