Record 5,000 migrants cross the Channel

ALMOST 5,000 migrants reached the UK via the Channel this year349 in seven boats on Saturday.

- David Hughes

That makes this year's total 4,993 with an average of 47 people per vessel. The first three months of 2024 had already set a high for arrivals; the previous record was 4,548 in 2022.

Rishi Sunak pledged to deter traffickers by sending illegal arrivals to Rwanda for asylum processing but legislation will not be considered until after MPs return to Parliament on April 15.