More than 1,300 migrants arrived in Kent in January
The number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13%
New figures from the Home Office show the number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13% compared with this time last year.
Some 1,335 people arrived in the UK after making the journey from France in January, according to the provisional data.
This is compared with the official monthly total of 1,180 recorded in January 2023.
Only yesterday, Wednesday 31st January, 278 people arrived in Kent after making the journey in six boats.
The highest number to cross in a single day so far this year was 358 in eight boats on January 17.
Earlier this week Downing Street said there were "variations" in the number of crossings taking place but it was "too early to say what the trend is for this year", when asked whether Rishi Sunak was on track to achieve his pledge to "stop the boats".
The Prime Minister has vowed to "stop the boats" as one of five key pledges a year ago.
Home Secretary James Cleverly met his French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin, for the first time in Paris on Tuesday.
The pair agreed to wider and more regular use of drones in sky patrols to monitor migrants attempting to make the journey as part of existing agreements in a bid to curb Channel crossings.
On the findings, the Home Office said:
"Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crack down on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels".
The UK government is pushing ahead with a plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, despite the Supreme Court ruling that the policy is unlawful.
Parliament is currently going through the process of making it law, though the House of Lords heard from the Archbishop of Canterbury this week - who said we can 'as a nation' do better.