More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, setting a new record high for the first six months of a year.
In June 5,170 migrants crossed the Channel in 80 boats, which was also a record month for this year. Home Office figures showed Border Force picked up 879 people in 13 dinghies on Monday, the third highest number of arrivals on a single day this year as people smugglers took advantage of record high temperatures and calm conditions in the Channel to ferry people across.
It made the annual tally so far 19,982 in 343 boats — but hundreds more followed on Tuesday, taking the total to more than 20,000. The Home Office will publish the precise number to have crossed on Wednesday.
