Over a six-month period: Unusual immigration into Britain via the Channel experiences its highest point
Over the initial six months of the year, an unprecedented number of unauthorized migrants voyaged across the English Channel to the UK. In contrast, the number of approved migrants entering the UK, such as professionals like doctors and nurses, students, and so forth, reduced, according to data released by the Home Office on Thursday. As per these figures, a record-breaking 13,489 migrants traversed the English Channel in boats from January to June.
During the same period last year, as per Home Office records, 11,433 individuals attempted the perilous journey in frequently unseaworthy vessels. This represented a 18% decrease compared to this year. According to official statistics, approximately 81% of the unauthorized migrants entering the UK within the first half of 2024 opted for the risky journey across the English Channel. Majority of these migrants are male, with around 20% being under the age of 18. They predominantly hail from Afghanistan (18%), Iran (13%), and Vietnam (10%).
The Home Office figures also suggest that the boats transporting individuals across the English Channel are progressively more congested. Between June 2018 and June 2019, the average number of individuals per boat was 10, but this figure shot up to a staggering 51 individuals per boat between June 2023 and June 2024. Reducing immigration was a declared objective of the previous Conservative government in London. The current Labour government also aims to reduce immigration, although it has announced a "more compassionate" migration policy.
Following the shift in government, the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, terminated his predecessor's plans for deporting asylum seekers who illegally entered the UK via the English Channel to Rwanda. Instead, the government declared on Wednesday that the National Crime Agency (NCA) would be boosted with 100 additional officers to combat human smuggling networks. The number of deportations is also set to rise.
However, lawful immigration to the UK has substantially declined following the implementation of stricter visa regulations under the previous Conservative government in April. The government, headed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, tightened visa regulations despite vociferous criticisms from the health sector and industry associations regarding skills shortages.
Visa-entry applicants in the UK's professional sectors, such as doctors and nurses, experienced a decrease in approvals during the same period. Consequently, visa-entry applicants seeking lawful entry through authorized channels have faced more stringent regulations.
