Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Stanley Murphy-Johns

Small boat crossings begin again after two-week pause

People thought to be migrants board a small boat in Gravelines, France (Gareth Fuller/PA) - (PA Wire)

Migrants have been pictured setting off from the French coast after a small boat collapsed off Dunkirk yesterday.

After two weeks of rough seas and no small boat crossings since October 22, the calmer weather has seen a renewed increase in incidents.

On Thursday, the French coastguard rescued 94 people who were thrown into the water when their small boat broke apart four nautical miles off the French coast.

Three of those rescued were suffering from hypothermia, according to the French maritime prefecture.

On Friday morning, a group of people were pictured scrambling to board a small boat in Gravelines, northern France, wearing orange life jackets.

They were seen wading through the sea towards the dinghy as thick clouds of mist rolled in overhead, before setting off towards the UK.

People thought to be migrants attempt to board a small boat in Gravelines, France (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

According to marine tracking apps, that was one of a number of similar boats which set off from the French coast this morning.

Yesterday saw 621 migrants arrive in the UK on nine boats, bringing the total number of people who have made the crossing this year to 37,575 as of November 6.

In 2024, small boat crossings made up just 4% of overall immigration to the UK, but more than 80% of unauthorised arrivals.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.