UK: 100 illegal attempts a day to enter country

Migrants made an estimated 100 attempts per day to enter Britain illegally during the summer months, according to official figures.

From April to July this year, 11,920 migrants were stopped by British and French authorities as they tried to enter the country illegally. The latest figures represent a huge jump from the 11,731 who tried to enter in 2012/13 and 9,632 who did so in 2011/12.

Campaigners arguing that the UK should allow less immigrants into the country have said the data proves the size of the problem the country was facing. Meanwhile, the Home Office has revealed that it was providing extra funds to France to boost security at major northern posts such as Calais.

Some 19,003 people were caught trying to enter the UK illegally in 2013/14, up 60 per cent from the previous year and 7,000 higher than has been recorded in any year since 2010/11, when 10,916 people tried to enter the country illegally.

Although 11,920 illegal attempts between April and July shows that an average of 100 illegal attempts per day were being made during these months, the authorities have stressed that did not mean 100 migrants were trying to enter on a daily basis as many could have been making “multiple attempts”, noting that there were 2,500 migrants camped out in Calais waiting for an opportunity to cross the Channel.