First migrants arrive in Dover after 26 day pause in those crossing the English Channel

A group of migrants arrived in Dover aboard a Border Force vessel this morning (Saturday 12th January 2024).

Author: Adam RichardsonPublished 13th Jan 2024

A group of people who are believed to be migrants have been brought ashore in Kent, the first in 26 days.

A Border Force vessel arrived in Dover this morning, breaking a 26 day pause in crossings across the English Channel.

The gap was the longest break in small boat arrivals for five years.

The provisional annual total for 2023, 29,437, is 36% lower than the record 45,774 crossings for the whole of 2022.

It is still the second highest annual total on record, above the figure for 2021 (28,526).

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.