More than 7,500 migrants have crossed the Channel this year: Record total is now four times the figure for 2019 after 100 refugees risked dangerous journey on Monday

  • Border Force separated seven separate boats on Monday, day after a man died 
  • People traffickers are fuelling the rise in crossings by hiring French fishing boats
  • Monday saw the second highest number crossings this month after Saturday 

More than 7,500 migrants have now crossed the Channel this year - more than four times the number in 2019 - after another 100 people risked the dangerous journey yesterday.

Border Force separated seven separate boats on Monday, just a day after a man was found washed up on the beach at Sangatte near Calais.

People traffickers are fuelling the rise in crossings, with criminals hiring French fishing boat crews to carry desperate migrants halfway across the Channel to evade military drones.

A Border Force officer carries a young child as a group of migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, on Monday

A Border Force officer carries a young child as a group of migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, on Monday 

A group of migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, following an incident involving a small boat in the Channel on Monday

A group of migrants are brought into Dover, Kent, following an incident involving a small boat in the Channel on Monday

Once in open water, asylum seekers clamber into pre-inflated dinghies held in the fishing boat to complete the rest of the perilous 21-mile crossing, reports suggest.

Monday saw the second highest number crossings this month after Saturday, when there were 170.

Since Saturday the French have prevented more than 550 people from making the trip, and the arrival of Storm Barbara is expected to force smugglers to postpone crossings for now until another break in the weather.

In total, 7,532 migrants have now attempted to make the perilous crossing across the English Channel this year compared to just 1,850 in 2019.

In September alone 1,954 made the crossing in small boats. So far this month, 403 migrants have been detained.

The French Navy issued an image of authorities rescuing migrants after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Channel over the weekend

The French Navy issued an image of authorities rescuing migrants after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Channel over the weekend

Using fishing trips as a guise allows groups to evade detection by drones - such as the £22 million Watchkeeper (pictured) which launched its first reconnaissance mission earlier this year

Using fishing trips as a guise allows groups to evade detection by drones - such as the £22 million Watchkeeper (pictured) which launched its first reconnaissance mission earlier this year 

Immigration minister Chris Philp said: 'Yesterday's tragic loss of life in France is a stark reminder of the perilous journey migrants face in the Channel.

'This is why we doing all we can to stop these crossings and make this route unviable, including by tracking down the criminal gangs who are risking vulnerable people's lives for profit.

'Last week the Home Office and National Crime Agency made 12 arrests of individuals involved in people smuggling and illegal entry - and there will be more in the coming weeks and months.'

Mr Philp said British officials were working with the French to seize the people smugglers' boats.

He added: 'These journeys are not only dangerous and illegal but also unnecessary. France is a safe country with a well-functioning asylum system and there is no need to leave France by small boat.

'We are committed to fixing the asylum system, to make it fairer and firmer, compassionate to those who need help and welcoming people through safe and legal routes.' 

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