The first migrants are set to arrive in Britain after crossing the Channel for the first time in 28 days, ending the longest period without any for seven years.

Footage taken in the middle of the night shows a packed boat full of over 100 migrants leaving France, and some swimming to make the leaving vessel.

Two videos show migrants leaving northern France.

It was published on a Tiktok account and shows them cramped on a ‘super-dinghy’ bound for Britain. Only a few are wearing lifejackets and it shows the ‘utter chaos’ of migrants trying to get on the boat.

One clip shows one migrant throw some of his belongings, believed to be personal documents, into the water before the boat leaves.

It has the caption: ‘It’s done, thank God’, thought to be a reference to the fact a boat has left France for the first time in 28 days.

One source said: ‘Smugglers are celebrating. This footage shows they have waited for the right weather and will then exploit it fully to take advantage of better weather.

Footage taken in the middle of the night shows a packed boat full of over 100 migrants leaving France, and some swimming to make the leaving vessel
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Footage taken in the middle of the night shows a packed boat full of over 100 migrants leaving France, and some swimming to make the leaving vessel

Only a few are wearing lifejackets and it shows the 'utter chaos' of migrants trying to get on the boat
+2
View gallery

Only a few are wearing lifejackets and it shows the ‘utter chaos’ of migrants trying to get on the boat

‘The super-dingys are being used. It’s utter chaos. They’re leaving and are desperate to make the boat, even swimming to get there.’

The pause in crossings has been down to the windy and poor weather conditions, making it even more dangerous.

December is traditionally one of the quietest months for Channel crossings, with a combination of low temperatures, poor visibility, less daylight and stormy weather making the journey particularly difficult.

The 28-day pause is the longest break since autumn 2018. That break saw a 48-day gap from September 2 to October 19, 2018.

This year looks to see the second highest annual number of migrants arriving in small boats since data was first reported in 2018.

The all-time high is 45,774 arrivals in 2022.

The total for 2025 currently – as of the morning of December 13 – stands at 39,292, which is already more than in any other year except 2022, but would require 6,483 arrivals between now and the end of December to set a new record.