At least 607 people arrived in Britain on Saturday as arrivals in 2022 continue to far outpace last year’s pace. It comes as the government has been accused by lawyers of trying to “demonise” people who support refugees with claims of “left-wing lawyers”. The latest arrivals – who made the perilous crossing in 14 boats – bring the total this year to more than 20,000 people, according to a PA news agency analysis. Around 60,000 people were expected to cross the Dover Strait in 2022, more than double the number from 2021. In recent years, the Home Office has repeatedly pledged to make the route “unviable” for migrants, but the numbers have continued to rise: from 1,843 in 2019 to 28,526 in 2021. The government has explored everything from sonic weapons to controversial push tactics to try to stop the crossings, with dubious results. Earlier this year, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced her flagship Rwandan offshore processing policy, which drew sharp criticism from charities and human rights groups. The plan was immediately challenged in the courts and the first, and so far only, flight to Kigali was canceled after a last-minute intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. Despite growing numbers, small boat arrivals in the UK are a fraction of the number of people going to Europe. Figures from the UN Refugee Agency show that at least 120,441 people arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean by land and sea in 2021.
