Did bad weather play a part in falling migrant Channel crossings? | BBC News

New figures obtained by BBC Verify have raised questions about the UK government's claims that poor weather conditions had no impact on a fall in small boat crossings across the Channel. The number of successful crossings by migrants decreased by a third in 2023, with Home Secretary James Cleverly telling the BBC that weather was not a "contributory factor" to falling numbers of migrants crossing the Channel, and the 36% decrease was instead down to greater co-operation with Europe and "going after" people smugglers. But a Met Office report for UK Border Force suggests there were more days in 2023 than in 2022 when migrants were unlikely to cross due to the weather. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #BBCNews