GBNews reports that migrants in France have posted videos on social media, including TikTok, providing step-by-step guidance on how to cross into Britain. The ‘tutorial’ shows individuals attempting to board moving lorries, often hiding behind bushes or trees before running and jumping into the space between the driver’s cabin and the trailer.
Charities say that lorry attempts are mostly undertaken by migrants who cannot afford professional smuggling services via small boats. However, the method carries high risks. In April 2024, a Sudanese man was struck and killed while attempting to board a lorry, and in June 2024, another migrant was crushed by metal bars inside a vehicle.
Tighter security in Calais has made lorry routes less popular, with small boats remaining the main method for crossing the Channel. One video begins with an unsuccessful attempt, where the lorry is moving too fast for the individual to get on. The Arabic caption reads, “The next one will be better.”
Subsequent clips show several successful attempts, accompanied by captions such as “congratulations, welcome to the UK” and “finally, he made it. Thank God he is safe.”
In the first nine months of 2025, 127 migrants were found at UK ports attempting to enter in vehicles, compared to 34,087 via small boats.
Despite the Labour government’s pledges to stop the boats, The first group of migrants for 2026 arrived in the UK on January 5th, despite sub-zero temperatures. Dozens made the journey from Calais, where temperatures reached -1°C, to Dover, recording lows of -3°C. Several individuals required treatment for hypothermia in French hospitals.
