Why are more migrants trying to cross the Channel?

The Channel migrant story has dominated the news in recent weeks - so what has been going on? Here's an in-depth guide.

:: Why has Home Secretary Sajid Javid called the situation a "major incident"?

There was a sharp rise in December in the number of migrants being picked up by UK authorities while trying to cross the English Channel in small boats such as dinghies.

Scores of people have been intercepted, including 12 men on two boats brought to shore at Dover on 21 December and another 40 migrants detected on Christmas Day.

Mr Javid said 230 migrants had tried to cross the Channel in December, with just under half prevented from leaving the country by the French authorities.

There are fears it is only a matter of time before there is a migrant death in the Channel from a capsized dinghy.

It is believed the recent mild weather and calm sea conditions have led to more attempted crossings.

And smugglers could have been trying to exploit the holiday period, where there may have been fewer border staff on duty than usual.

The Home Office released figures to reveal 539 migrants attempted to travel to the UK on small boats in 2018, with around 80% making their attempts in the last three months of the year.

Of the total number of attempted crossings, 42% were intercepted by French authorities before they were able to make it to the UK.



:: Who are the migrants?

Many of them are thought to come from Iran and others from war-ravaged Syria. Some have said they would rather die trying to make the sea crossing to the UK than return to France.

It is reported that one reason for the increase in Iranians is the effect of sanctions imposed on their country by the US.

The Iranian economy has been squeezed as a result and many young people are struggling to find work, despite often being very well-educated.

In addition, there has been a significant increase in the number of French police raids on Calais camps, which have dispersed the inhabitants.



:: What is the UK government doing to try to stop the migrants' Channel attempts?

Home Secretary Savid Javid returned to work early from a family holiday over Christmas and declared a "major incident", adding that the situation was "of grave concern".

After leading a cross-government meeting on New Year's Eve, he announced that two Border Force cutters would be redeployed from the Mediterranean to the Channel.

That move came hours after 12 Iranians - including a child - landed on the beach at Lydd-on-Sea in Kent.

Before making the decision to call in the extra boats, Mr Javid said people were "gambling their lives in reckless attempts to reach the UK in unsafe boats and treacherous conditions".

The home secretary has also appointed a "gold commander" to oversee the situation and has spoken to French interior minister Christopher Castaner by telephone.

The latter wrote on Twitter: "In touch with my British counterpart Sajid Javid. We are co-ordinating to strengthen our actions to combat Channel crossings undertaken by certain irregular migrants on small boats, at peril of their lives."