A record 230 people have arrived in the UK on a single people-smuggling boat after crossing the English Channel, according to British authorities. The vessel left France late Sunday and was intercepted off the English coast early Monday, setting a new high for the number of migrants on one boat. The previous record was set last month when 165 people made the crossing.

The UK Home Office condemned the incident, describing it as an example of the 'reckless and dangerous tactics' employed by trafficking gangs. 'This latest incident demonstrates the reckless and dangerous tactics used by criminal gangs facilitating these crossings, who continue to put lives at risk by cramming ever greater numbers of people onto unseaworthy vessels,' a spokesperson said. The official also noted that overall crossings are down this year, with July recording the lowest number since 2020.

The government has signed a payment-by-results deal with France to increase the number of officers on French beaches by 40% in an effort to curb the crossings. Provisional figures show that 14,819 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, a 43% decline compared to the same period last year. However, critics argue that the numbers remain high and smugglers are adapting to new measures.

Earlier this month, a dinghy carrying 173 migrants capsized in the Channel after its engine caught fire, highlighting the dangers of these journeys. The UK government insists it is making progress but acknowledges that more needs to be done to address the root causes of illegal migration and dismantle smuggling networks.

Source: www.aljazeera.com