Surge in Small Boat Crossings as UK Government Faces Ongoing Channel Challenge

[Social Media]

 

Over 700 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on a single day, according to the Home Office. On Saturday, 707 individuals made the dangerous journey, marking the fourth highest daily total of the year. With this, the total number of arrivals for 2024 has reached 24,335. The record for the most arrivals in one day remains 882, set on 18 June.

Another 707 illegal migrants made it over to the UK in dinghies yesterday

🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/lwGBAVzTAL

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 22, 2024

 

Since Labour's victory in the July election, more than 10,000 people have attempted the perilous journey across the Channel. The government, while facing pressure to stem the flow of small boats, continues to assert that progress is being made. A key step in this effort was the appointment of former police chief Martin Hewitt as the new Border Security Commander, tasked with tackling the issue head-on.

 

Despite the government's efforts, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refrained from setting a specific deadline for stopping the crossings. In an interview with BBC South East, he emphasized, “I’m not going to put an arbitrary date” on halting the influx of small boats. However, he reiterated his commitment to tackling the criminal networks behind the smuggling operations, stating he was "absolutely determined" to disrupt their activities.

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of international collaboration in addressing the crisis. She highlighted the government's plans to work closely with European police forces to crack down on smuggling gangs and prevent future crossings. "We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice," a Home Office spokesperson said, reflecting the urgency of the situation.

 

The prime minister's stance on tackling illegal immigration was further highlighted during his recent discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Starmer expressed a keen interest in Italy’s approach to reducing irregular immigration, particularly in the Mediterranean. He noted Italy's success in achieving "dramatic reductions" in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea and indicated that the UK government seeks to learn from these efforts.

 

The issue remains a matter of grave concern, especially in light of recent tragedies. On 15 September, eight people lost their lives when a boat carrying 60 individuals encountered difficulties off the coast of France. In total, 45 people have died attempting to make the crossing this year alone. These heartbreaking incidents underscore the deadly risks associated with the crossings and the urgent need for action.

 

The previous Conservative government made stopping the small boats a central focus, but Labour has opted for a more measured approach, avoiding any promises of immediate resolution. Starmer, though determined to tackle the root causes of the crisis, has stopped short of offering a timeline. The complexity of the issue, combined with the ongoing tragedies at sea, makes this a key challenge for the UK government as it navigates the difficult task of securing the nation's borders while addressing the humanitarian crisis at hand.

 

As the situation evolves, the government’s strategy of strengthening border security and disrupting smuggling networks will be crucial. But with more than 24,000 arrivals this year, the challenge remains formidable.

 

Based on a report from: BBC | X 2024-09-24

 

 

 

[Danderman123]

If the Germans had tried this in WW2, the Battle of Britain might have ended differently.

 

 

[jippytum]

A "blind man on a galloping horse" could predict that under Starmer. 

 

[JonnyF]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

On Saturday, 707 individuals made the dangerous journey, marking the fourth highest daily total of the year.

 

I'm sure a suitable number of houses were knocked up on Saturday to ensure there is no shortage (and subsequent increase in house prices) of properties for the existing UK population.

 

I'm sure new schools and jails were built. 

 

I'm sure they were all doctors and nurses with a clean criminal record.

 

I'm sure they all have values that will fit in perfectly with the British culture. 

 

I'm sure they all wish to integrate. 

 

I'm sure the government will not have to raise taxes to pay for this. 

 

I'm sure this will culturally enrich the British people. 

[RayC]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

I'm sure a suitable number of houses were knocked up on Saturday to ensure there is no shortage (and subsequent increase in house prices) of properties for the existing UK population.

 

I'm sure new schools and jails were built. 

 

I'm sure they were all doctors and nurses with a clean criminal record.

 

I'm sure they all have values that will fit in perfectly with the British culture. 

 

I'm sure they all wish to integrate. 

 

I'm sure the government will not have to raise taxes to pay for this. 

 

I'm sure this will culturally enrich the British people. 

 

And you discovered all this since these boats arrived last Saturday?

 

I'm very impressed with your industrialness.

[JonnyF]

10 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

And you discovered all this since these boats arrived last Saturday?

 

No. Whatever gave you that impression?  

 

10 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

I'm very impressed with your industrialness.

 

Quite the compliment 😄. Although I'd be even more delighted if you were impressed with my industriousness. 

[Petethefeet]

Most of these people come from the countries Britain has colonised, looted,tortured,raped etc.  Payback time. We will have an obligation to receive Palestinians. If only we had stayed in our own country?

[JonnyF]

26 minutes ago, Petethefeet said:

Most of these people come from the countries Britain has colonised, looted,tortured,raped etc.  Payback time.

 

Yes I feel this underlying hatred of Britain is the reason a lot of people support this (clearly damaging) mass immigration to Britain. Even some self loathing, hand wringing Brits themselves.

 

It's refreshing to find someone so honest about it though. Thanks for having the stones for openly say what a lot of the "pro-immigration" (anti-Britain) posters are thinking. Even if it's a warped viewpoint.  

[Red Forever]

When I saw this headline I knew the tone of comments would be mostly from frothing bigots reacting in their oh so erudite ways.

Hey you Farridge f*ckwits: here's some breaking news. The Channel crossers are in a miniscule minority of asylum seekers. Over 1 million asylum seekers arrived by air. Small boat crossing numbers are in the 10s of thousands of which 80% of asylum applications are successful.

[RayC]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

No. Whatever gave you that impression?  

 

Your certainty about the 707 individuals concerned e.g. "I'm sure that they were all doctors and nurses ...", etc. Collection of this detailed information must have been time-consuming and required some effort. 

 

Actually, it does now occur to me that you could have collected the information prior to Saturday but, if that is the case, I do wonder why you didn't pass this information onto the relevant French and UK authorities?😉

 

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

 

Quite the compliment 😄. Although I'd be even more delighted if you were impressed with my industriousness. 

 

Given that the meaning of the two terms is identical I don't understand your preference but, as you wish, I'll try to remember that in future.

 

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/industrialness_n?tab=meaning_and_use

[MarkBR]

19 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

When I saw this headline I knew the tone of comments would be mostly from frothing bigots reacting in their oh so erudite ways.

Hey you Farridge f*ckwits: here's some breaking news. The Channel crossers are in a miniscule minority of asylum seekers. Over 1 million asylum seekers arrived by air. Small boat crossing numbers are in the 10s of thousands of which 80% of asylum applications are successful.

Indeed, the gammons' jowls are shuddering, their eyes popping, the sausage fingers stabbing keyboards & jibbering inanities at the Moon.