437 people in seven boats and 583 people in eight boats crossed the English Channel from Northern France to southern British shores on Friday (June 20) and Saturday, respectively.

That's according to the latest statistics published by the Home Office, the British interior ministry.

This brings the total for the past seven days to 2,083, the Home Office website shows.

According to the news agency dpa, the total number of crossings for the year now stands at 18,400, up from 12,644 by the same date last year. The figures for 2023 and 2022 were 10,601 and 11,739, respectively.

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France taking tougher stance

The latest arrivals come despite French authorities appearing to take a tougher stance on their side of the Channel.

Last week, pictures emerged that appeared to show French police near Calais and Dunkirk using tear gas on migrants to prevent them from boarding boats. 

However, news agency dpa reported that they were also seen standing by and watching when migrants got into the water to board a dinghy in the hope of crossing the English Channel.

What's more, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week reportedly said that the situation in the Channel was "deteriorating" and threatened a visa crackdown.

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The prime minister said he was considering whether British visas could be issued based on how well countries cooperate with the UK on issues such as taking back people whose asylum claims are rejected.

At the beginning of the month, the British government reiterated calls on French authorities to stop migrants in shallow waters.

Despite efforts on both sides of the Channel, the migration route across the narrow waterway, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, remains a major smuggling corridor. According to the Associated Press (AP), many migrants favor the UK for reasons such as language, family ties, or perceived easier access to asylum and work.

with dpa