More than 45,700 migrants crossed the Channel by small boat in record breaking 2022

Nearly 46,000 migrants crossed the Channel by small boat in 2022 – with 1,295 of those arriving in one day, according to official government figures.

A total of 45,728 asylum seekers made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 1,104 boats in 2022 – an average of 41 people per vessel.

August saw 8.641 people arrive in Britain by inflatable dinghy or other small craft – the most migrants to reach the UK in one month.

And the busiest day came on August 22 when 1,295 migrants arrived in Britain over a 24-hour period.

 A total of 45,728 asylum seekers made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 1,104 boats last year – an average of 41 people per vessel (pictured: group of people thought to be migrants rescued by the RNLI following a small boat incident in the Channel in December)

On December 14 four people died in the Channel when a boat carrying 43 migrants sank in the early hours of the morning.

British and French authorities launched an international rescue operation after the crew of a UK fishing boat reported hearing cries for help coming from the water around 3am.

The fishermen, who spotted a deflated dinghy and a number of people in the icy waters, desperately tried to help survivors on board their trawler.

Two asylum seekers were airlifted to hospital after battling freezing conditions in the water but despite efforts by authorities, four males – who have not yet been identified – died in the tragic incident.

Kent Police continues to carry out enquiries to identify the migrants and their next of kin. It is believed they were from Afghanistan and Senegal.

The force has also launched a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

August saw 8.641 people arrive in Britain by inflatable dinghy or other small craft – the most migrants to reach the UK in one month (pictured: a group of people believed to be migrants that were brought to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel in March)

The number of migrant crossings in 2022 has dwarfed 2021’s total of 28,526, and 2020 which saw just 8,410 people make the treacherous journey.

The last asylum seekers to arrive last year came on December 25 when 90 people were intercepted by UK officials off the coast of Dover, Kent in two boats.

This month, the Ministry of Defence is set to hand responsibility for small boat crossings back to the Home Office – after taking over from the department on April 14.

This will see the Royal Navy pulled out of the Channel and sub-contractors put in place to help support Border Force officials with intercepting and processing migrants.