People smugglers have continued to show their disregard for human life as the number of migrants crossing the English Channel on each boat hits record levels.
Some 5,369 people made the journey in August in 102 boats – an average of around 53 migrants per vessel, making it the highest monthly average since records began in 2018.
The average number per vessel for each of the last three months has set a new record, as smugglers use bigger boats with larger numbers of people on board as they ferry them from France to Britain.
Despite there being no arrivals on the south coast in recent days, the last week has seen 719 migrants were brought ashore in 12 small boats – an average of nearly 60 people per vessel.
The latest landings were on Tuesday, when 300 people made the crossings in five boats. Photos showed showed a dinghy packed with men and boys, some without lifejackets, perched on the sides while their legs dangled in the water.
The second highest average of 52 was recorded in July when 3,299 people made the journey in 63 boats.
The third highest average of 49 was reached in June when 78 boats carried 3,823 people in a month.
Some 20,101 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year.
But no arrivals have been recorded for the last two days amid poor weather conditions at sea.
This is around 20 per cent down on this time last year when more than 25,000 people had already made the journey.
Some 8,574 people were detected making the journey in the whole of August 2022, recently revised Home Office data shows.
According to separate Government figures, the total number of crossings for last year was higher than initially recorded.
The latest available Home Office data shows the figure now stands at 45,774, compared with the previously documented 45,755
