Migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats now account for more than three quarters of the total number of people illegally entering the UK, new data reveals.
Home Office figures have shown that 28,526 people were detected arriving on small boats in 2021, compared with 8,466 in 2020, 1,843 in 2019, and 299 in 2018.
There were 36,792 illegal entries to the UK last year, with migrants using small boats making up 78 per cent.
November had 6,971 small boat arrivals, the highest monthly total in the four years that statistics have been collected.
The Home Office said the crossings, in unsuitable and dangerous craft across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, were a “phenomenon that was rare prior to 2019 but has since increased sharply in number".
About 90 per cent of those arriving in 2021 were male and three quarters were men aged between 18 and 39.
Children under 18 made up about 12 per cent of arrivals, 76 per cent of whom were boys.
It also pointed out that small boat crossings were only one of many methods used to “seek entry without permission” to Britain.
The UK government has pledged to “take back control” of Britain's borders. The vow comes at a time when both the UK and France have sought to blame each other for the situation.
They have been under mounting pressure after 27 migrants drowned off the coast of France in November during an attempted crossing in a boat likened by French officials to a children's inflatable pool.
French President Emmanuel Macron says Britain's failure to establish a legal route to claim asylum in the country is in part responsible for the crisis.
But Britain counters that France is not doing enough to prevent criminal gangs of exploitative people smugglers from launching the small vessels from its northern shores.
About 30 per cent of those arriving in 2021 were Iranian nationals while 21 per cent were Iraqi, 11 per cent Eritrean and 9 per cent Syrian, although information on nationality was not available for many arrivals.
Figures released this week showed the number of asylum claims made in the UK had climbed to its highest in about two decades, while the backlog of cases waiting to be determined continues to soar.
There were 48,540 asylum applications — relating to 56,495 people — in the UK in 2021, up 63 per cent on the previous year and the highest for a calendar year since 2003.
The increase was most “likely linked in part to the easing of global travel restrictions that were in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to a sharp increase in small boat arrivals to the UK”, the Home Office said.
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The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
SPECS
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Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
