Over 500 Migrants Cross the Channel to the UK in a Single Day

More than 500 people crossed the Channel and arrived in the UK on Friday, as small boat crossings hit record levels this year.

According to PA news agency analysis, a total of 517 people arrived in eight boats that day, pushing the annual total to 21,117 — a 56% increase compared to the same time last year. On Tuesday, the figure surpassed 20,000 — the earliest it has ever reached that milestone since records began in 2018 — as the Government continues to struggle with its promise to “smash the gangs” behind the smuggling operations.

The UK has repeatedly called on French authorities to do more to stop boats from departing, including introducing rule changes to let police intervene once dinghies are already in the water. Although those changes are not yet in force, reports on Friday suggested tougher measures were already being implemented.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a “crackdown” on illegal working, particularly targeting asylum seekers employed without permission in the gig economy.

Enforcement teams will conduct checks at known hotspots where they believe asylum seekers are working as delivery riders.

This follows commitments from Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat to strengthen their facial verification and fraud checks after discussions with ministers.

Ms Cooper said: *“Illegal working undercuts local wages and undermines honest businesses. The British public won’t stand for it, and neither will this Government.

“People-smuggling gangs mislead migrants into thinking they can live and work freely in the UK, but instead they end up in squalid conditions with poor pay and long hours.

“We are stepping up enforcement against this pull factor, alongside returning 30,000 people who have no right to stay and tightening laws through our plan for change.”*