Migrants: over 600 arrive into Dover after eight days of no crossings
Bad weather conditions meant no crossings were recorded for over a week
Some 609 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday (12 December) after crossing the English Channel, according to figures from the Home Office.
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 34,582.
This is 19% higher than at the same point last year, when the total stood at 29,090, but 23% lower than at this stage in 2022, when the total was 44,821.
The crossings yesterday were the first for eight days.
Nine boats arrived, which suggests an average of around 68 people per boat.
They also represented the highest daily total since October 18, when 647 migrants arrived.