Russians among 70 nationalities now arriving illegally on small boats

MIGRANTS from at least 70 different countries crossed the Channel last year, the Daily Express can reveal.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

The Home Office warned the small boat crisis was “spiralling out of control” with a record number crossing so far this year. Some 235 people arrived on Thursday, with more detected yesterday, making it seven consecutive days of crossings.

And Daily Express analysis reveals seven Russians arrived by small boat last year as well as one Belgian, one German, four Serbians, one Greek and one Pole. Four of these were schoolgirls aged 17 or under. They all submitted asylum applications to join family members in the UK. All but one of the Russians were adult males, the Express understands.