The number of migrants arriving in the UK by crossing the English Channel in boats reached a record high in the first half of the year.
According to data released by the UK Home Office, the number of people arriving in the country by small boat in the first six months increased by 18 percent compared to last year, reaching 13,489.
According to a BBC report, data up to June revealed that 81 percent of migrants entering the UK without legal permission did so by boat. Since 2018, when the government began counting irregular entries, 133,000 people have arrived in the country this way. 70 percent of these individuals are male, and one-fifth are under the age of 18.
10 PERCENT OF THOSE ENTERING THE UK IRREGULARLY ARE TURKISH
In the first half of this year, 18 percent of those arriving in the country irregularly were Afghan. 13 percent were Iranian, 10 percent were Vietnamese, 10 percent were Turkish, and 9 percent were Syrian.
According to British authorities, human smugglers are constantly renewing their smuggling methods by using larger boats and carrying more people. At the heart of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's promise to deal with irregular migration is the fight against these gangs.
These figures indicate that a difficult period awaits the newly elected Labour Party, which aims to limit crossings across the English Channel. During the anti-immigrant and far-right protests that gripped the country in recent weeks, slogans of "Stop the boats" were chanted.
ANTI-IMMIGRANT PROTESTS HAD ERUPTED
Three young girls lost their lives in a knife attack at a dance school in the town of Southport. Following the spread of misinformation on social media regarding the identity of the suspect, anti-immigrant protests erupted.
Rishi Sunak, the leader of the Conservative Party who lost the election, had promised to stop the boats. On the other hand, a decrease was observed in the arrival of healthcare workers, laborers, and students due to stricter immigration rules implemented by Sunak that came into effect this year.
The UK has long been experiencing difficulties due to a shortage of workers in the healthcare sector.
News Source: 12punto
