Migrants cross English Channel for first time in over a fortnight with 106 new arrivals in Britain yesterday

The first small boats in more than a fortnight have crossed the English Channel, after 106 migrants arrived in Dover on Tuesday.

Bad weather has prevented any crossings since 2 January.

With a short break in the weather yesterday, criminal gangs pushed three small boats off from French beaches.

Two made it into UK waters and were picked up by Border Force vessels.

A third boat got into difficulties off the French coast near Calais.

The French coastguard and border patrol vessels had to rescue 45 people from the small inflatable, who were taken back to Calais for assessment by medics.

The rough weather conditions in the English Channel have taken some of the pressure of the UK government, which has been facing increased criticism over its inability to stem the flow of small boats.

Last year, almost 46,000 people crossed the Channel in hundreds of small boats.

A third of those who crossed were from Albania.

The last small boat to cross before yesterday’s vessels made the journey was just after New Year, when 44 people were pulled from an inflatable off the Kent coast.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said addressing the small boats crisis is one of his government’s top priorities.

Unions, human rights groups and some Channel migrants were granted permission on Monday to appeal a High Court decision late last year, which ruled the government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing was lawful.

The Home Office has also set up a new Small Boats Command, bringing together Border Force, the Military and the National Crime Agency to help tackle the Channel migrant problem more effectively.