More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel to the UK so far in 2024, with official data revealing a year marked by tragedy. According to figures published on September 23, there have been 46 recorded deaths during these dangerous journeys, a significant increase compared to just 12 fatalities in 2023. Between September 21 and 22 alone, over 1,400 migrants made the crossing from France, bringing the total number of arrivals to 25,052 since the beginning of the year.
This number represents a 4% rise compared to the same period in 2023, although it remains 21% lower than the record number of crossings seen in 2022, which reached 45,000 migrants. British authorities have observed that smugglers are overcrowding boats more than ever, with an average of 52 passengers per vessel, a sharp contrast to the 13 per boat seen in 2020.
The UK government, under the Conservative Party until July, had prioritized reducing immigration, both legal and illegal. However, the Labour Party, which came into power in July, has committed to the same objective but promises a more compassionate approach. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office in July, quickly ended the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers arriving irregularly to Rwanda but vowed to strengthen efforts against smuggling gangs.
Despite these efforts, tensions over migration have continued. In the early weeks of Starmer’s leadership, anti-migrant riots erupted in England and Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister recently drew criticism from within his own party after expressing admiration for the tough migration policies of Italy’s far-right leader, Giorgia Meloni, during a visit to Rome.