Dozens of migrants land in Dover after early morning Channel crossing

Dozens of migrants arrive in Dover after making early morning Channel crossing – as total to make journey during scorching start to August alone passes 2,600

• A total of 39 migrants were picked up by the Border Force this morning and taken to Dover at around 7.30am
• MoD figures show 261 migrants crossed the English Channel yesterday taking the August total to over 2,500
• So far this year around 19,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, compared to 28,526 in the entirety of 2021

Dozens of migrants arrived in England this morning after making the dangerous crossing over the English Channel in small boats before being picked up by the Border Force and landing at Dover at around 7.30am.

The group of 39 migrants appears to be comprised of mostly be young men and older male teenagers as well as several young women and older adults who landed in Dover as temperatures hit around 22C during scorching August weather.

Figures released by the Ministry of Defence today show that 261 migrants crossed the English Channel in a total of seven small boats yesterday, August 11.

This brings the total number of migrants crossing the channel in August alone to a total of 2,608 according to MoD statistics which include figures up to midnight last night.

A group of 39 migrants arrived in Dover this morning after crossing the English Channel in small boats before being picked up by the Border Force and landing at Dover at around 7.30am

 The group of migrants which came into Dover this morning were wearing red life vests and most of them were pictured holding burgundy coloured towels

The group of 39 migrants appears to be comprised of mostly be young men and older male teenagers as well as several young women and older adults

Migrants were picked up in the English Channel by the Border Force Ranger boat before landing at Dover Marina

Meanwhile, a total of around 19,000 migrants sailed across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far this year, compared to 28,526 throughout the entirety of 2021 and 8,410 in 2020.

It comes after it was revealed this week how people traffickers have launched a £1,500-a-person ‘summer sale’ to cross the Channel illegally in a dinghy – mainly aimed at Albanians exploiting a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws – and advertised on TikTok with the promise: ‘The French won’t stop you – they will escort you safely until you reach the UK’.

The group of migrants which came into Dover this morning were wearing red life vests and most of them were pictured holding burgundy coloured towels.

Most of them were wearing disposable face masks as they entered Dover Marina after being picked up by the Border Force Ranger boat.

Several of the people crossing the channel were wearing designer clothing. One man wearing a Tommy Hilfiger puffer jacket was photographed texting on a smartphone after he disembarked from the Border Force boat at Dover.

Two young men were also photographed wearing Nike branded jackets and a young female migrant wearing pink trousers was pictured carrying a leather handbag.

The highest level of migrants crossings over the Channel so far this year was on August 1 when 696 migrants were intercepted at sea by Border Force in just 14 boats – an average of around 50 migrants per vessel.

Figures released by the Ministry of Defence today show that 261 migrants crossed the English Channel in a total of seven small boats yesterday , August 11

A man wearing a Tommy Hilfiger puffer jacket (pictured) was photographed texting on a smartphone after he disembarked from the Border Force boat at Dover

The highest level of migrants crossings over the Channel so far this year was on August 1 when 696 migrants were intercepted at sea by Border Force in just 14 boats – an average of around 50 migrants per vessel

Two young men (one of pictured middle) were wearing Nike branded jackets and a young female migrant (left) wearing pink trousers was pictured carrying a leather handbag

Some 28,526 people made the treacherous journey in 2021 – compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020, according to official government figures.

A Government spokesperson said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.

‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.

‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’

It comes as, amid continuing calm waters and warm temperatures, ‘never been cheaper’ prices are being offered on social media with experts finding that at least a third of the 3,000 migrants who crossed from France in the past six weeks used one of the offers.

Multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising ‘safe passage’

One of the TikTok accounts posted a video offering safe passage from Calais, northern France, for £5,000

MPs have demanded that ministers redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain, lured in with cut prices and the promise: ‘Hurry Albanians … England is waiting.’ 

The price of crossing the Channel appears to have dropped from close to £20,000 to between £5,000 and £3,500 per person. In some cases it has been as low as £1,500 to fill inflatable boats landing on the Kent coast. 

One advert said: ‘Don’t pay £17,800-£18,000. They are passing by every day, it has never been cheaper’, while another shows a group in a dinghy grinning while holding the Albanian flag and promising safe passage to the UK for £5,000.

Albanians are understood to be using a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws by claiming that they are the victims of trafficking to Britain for forced work. 

It is said to help them claim asylum despite their home country not suffering civil war since 1997.

Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France with 1,075 Albanians arriving in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – now eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.

And TikTok is being used to lure them in with nine criminal gangs said to run the route to Britain. Experts are split, with some claiming it is a sale to coincide with the hot and dry summer Europe is enjoying while others believe it is ‘a closing down sale as they [gangs] are getting scared that the Rwanda policy will take off’.

Tony Smith, former director general of Border Force, told the Telegraph: ‘It may be the business model is struggling to handle new markets like Albania and may have to do a bit more of this sales pitch to encourage more people to do it.’ 

The ‘summer sale’ is said to be contributing to a rise in crossings. And now multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising ‘safe passage’ – along with advice on using the asylum system.

MPs demand Rwanda plan be restarted as soon as possible as traffickers ‘trick migrants into racing to Britain before Boris Johnson is replaced’ 

The Rwanda scheme was championed by Home Secretary Priti Patel

Albanian migrants are being conned by ruthless human traffickers into making dangerous Channel crossings before Britain’s next Prime Minister takes office.

Those making the perilous journey are being warned a new leader will halt all crossings with patrols, while also dropping their charges from £10,000 to £2,000.

MPs last night called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain. 

Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country – a Nato member that wants to join the EU – now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France. 

The escalation saw 1,075 Albanians arrive in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12. 

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians. 

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