UK: Channel Crossings Increase 25% in 2024, Second Highest on Record

2 comments

1. There is a direct correlation between the weather and attempts to cross, last October was very calm compared to previous years and led to more people attempting the crossing that month.

   I would like to see the ‘Red Days’ (Home Office name for calm weather days) influx figures and see if the amount per red day is changing up or down, or is within margin of error for a steady figure.

   That would be the better metric for if things are starting to work or has been going off the rails, let’s see how last couple of years and now compares to a year after the Border bill comes into effect.

   Does anyone know where these figures are? 

   I will quote a BBC article about this from yesterday – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rqd74v9r7o to be precise 

   “The boats that are used are incredibly flimsy for a sea journey. I have seen and touched them, when visiting Border Force in Dover. They are made of the same stuff as a bouncy castle.

   So it is not surprising that when the weather isn’t great, and in particular when there are plenty of waves, fewer crossings are attempted.

   The Home Office classifies each day according to the weather, with those judged to have the most benign conditions on the water called ‘red days’.

   Between mid October and mid November this year, there was the highest concentration of so-called red days in any month since the big uptick in small boat crossings in 2021.

   Of the 31 days between those dates, 26 fell into that category and 6,288 people crossed the Channel.

   In the same period last year there were three red days and 768 arrivals.”

2. Glad to see the gangs being smashed!

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