Small boats leave France after week of no migrant crossing arrivals

WorldPolitics
31 May 2025 • 9:56 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Six migrant boats have left France in the first attempt to cross the English Channel and reach the UK in days.

A group including children was seen boarding at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk.

French authorities were then pictured escorting a small boat.

There have not been any arrivals of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats for a week, the latest Home Office figures show.

But 2025 is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30% on the number recorded at this point last year, according to analysis of the data by the PA news agency.

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Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs.

The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings.

Sunny weather is forecast on Saturday with some areas potentially hitting 27C.

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