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It is estimated that around 1,000 migrants crossed into the UK on Thursday as the government warns the number of people departing from France is “unacceptable”.

If officially confirmed, the figure will be the highest daily total of migrant crossings into Britain on record.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of illegal migrants we have seen departing from France today (Thursday) is unacceptable.

EDITORS NOTE Children's faces have been pixelated as the PA Picture Desk has been unable to gain the necessary permission to photograph a child under 16 on issues involving their welfare. A group of people thought to be migrants arrive in Dover, Kent, after being rescued by the Dover lifeboat, following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Thursday November 11, 2021.
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Children were seen wrapped in blankets as they were helped ashore in Dover

“The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery and our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system which encourages migrants to make this lethal journey.”

The current record for the number of migrants arriving in the UK aboard small boats in a single day is 853, which was set on 3 November.

On Thursday, children wrapped in blankets were helped ashore in Dover, Kent as Border Force responded to a flurry of small boats in the English Channel.

EDITORS NOTE Children's faces have been pixelated as the PA Picture Desk has been unable to gain the necessary permission to photograph a child under 16 on issues involving their welfare. A young girl amongst a group of people thought to be migrants is helped by a Coastguard officer as she arrives in Dover, Kent, after being rescued by the Dover lifeboat, following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Thursday November 11, 2021.
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Small children were seen arriving in Dover

Groups of people were seen arriving at the port aboard lifeboats as well as Border Force’s Hurricane vessel.

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Further along the coast, in Hastings, more people were reportedly seen arriving on a beach after being picked up by the RNLI.

In recent weeks, at least two people have died while trying to attempt the perilous journey and several more have been feared to be lost at sea.

More than 22,300 people have successfully completed the trip this year, according to data compiled by the PA news agency – which is more than double the number for the whole of 2020.

EDITORS NOTE Children's faces have been pixelated as the PA Picture Desk has been unable to gain the necessary permission to photograph a child under 16 on issues involving their welfare. A group of people thought to be migrants arrive in Dover, Kent, after being rescued by the Dover lifeboat, following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Thursday November 11, 2021.
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Groups of people were helped by the RNLI

In the last seven days, PA figures show more than 1,200 people gave reached the UK.

In 2019, Home Secretary Priti Patel promised to make migrant crossings an “infrequent phenomenon” by spring 2020 and then pledged in August last year to “make this route unviable”.

Since then, the government has agreed to pay France £54m to increase immigration controls.

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Penny Lancaster says she felt ‘belittled’ by ex-MasterChef host Gregg Wallace

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Penny Lancaster says she felt 'belittled' by ex-MasterChef host Gregg Wallace

Model Penny Lancaster has said she “felt ashamed and belittled” by how former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace treated her on the TV show.

Lancaster, who is also a TV personality, and is married to singer Rod Stewart, told Sky News’ The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee programme that she also felt let down by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK.

“I didn’t feel like I was supported in that moment, I felt ashamed and belittled by the way Greg Wallace had treated me but equally I felt disappointed that the production company hadn’t come to my rescue,” Lancaster, 54 and a MasterChef contestant in 2021, said.

“There is a long way to go, but just by people coming forward and being honest about their experiences I think will help in the long term.”

At the end of July, Wallace, 60, apologised after a report commissioned by Banijay UK, and carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against him were substantiated.

Sir Rod Stewart criticised Wallace on Instagram in November 2024 and claimed he “humiliated” his wife when she was on the show.

He wrote: “Good riddance Wallace… You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you?

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“You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully.”

Gregg Wallace. Pic: PA
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Gregg Wallace. Pic: PA

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Gregg Wallace speaks out after MasterChef sacking
Wallace ‘deeply sorry’ after more than half of allegations against him upheld

Sky News has approached Wallace for comment.

He has previously apologised to people he has hurt, saying in July that he knows he has said things that have offended people. He has denied a specific allegation of unwanted touching.

The BBC referred Sky News to their statement from July, in which the corporation said: “Although the full extent of these issues were not known at the relevant time, opportunities were missed to address this behaviour – both by the production companies running MasterChef and the BBC. We accept more could and should have been done sooner.

“We want to thank all those who took part in the investigation, including those who first raised concerns directly with the BBC in November last year. We apologise to everyone who has been impacted by Mr Wallace’s behaviour.”

Penny Lancaster speaks to Sarah-Jane Mee
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Penny Lancaster speaks to Sarah-Jane Mee

Banijay UK, the producers of MasterChef, told Sky News: “We are extremely sorry to anyone who has been impacted by any inappropriate behaviour by Gregg Wallace whilst working on our shows and felt unable to speak up at the time or that their complaint was not adequately addressed.

“Ways of reporting concerns whilst working on our productions, protocols around behaviour and training for both cast and crew, have improved exponentially in recent years and we constantly review welfare procedures across our productions to ensure that they are as robust as they can be.”

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London mayor Sadiq Khan hits out at ‘misinformation’ as new figures show fall in crimes

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London mayor Sadiq Khan hits out at 'misinformation' as new figures show fall in crimes

Sadiq Khan has hit back at politicians “spreading misinformation” about safety in London as new data shows the number of violent crimes leading to injury has fallen in every borough over the past year.

Figures from the mayor’s office for policing and crime compare the 12 months ending in August 2025 with the previous 12 months – and show there were 8,749 fewer crimes which resulted in someone being hurt, a drop of nearly 12%.

The borough of Havering in east London recorded the largest drop (16.3%) followed by Enfield in north London (16.1%).

The smallest decreases were in Greenwich (4.3%) and Kensington and Chelsea (4.6%).

Sir Sadiq said: “We’ve seen a number of politicians here and across the globe talking down London and spreading misinformation about crime and safety in the capital.

“The evidence is clear, our approach to tackling crime and its complex causes works. It’s driving down violence right across the capital.”

His comments come after Donald Trump reignited his feud with Sir Sadiq earlier this month by accusing him of doing a “terrible job” and claiming “crime in London is through the roof”.

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The US president also hit out at the mayor in a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, where he also made the outlandish claim that London “wants Sharia law” – something there is no evidence for.

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Trump attacks UN and London mayor

Asked about the attacks, Sir Sadiq said: “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic.”

He added that the public would be “wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head”.

Read more:
Trump’s jaw-dropping week
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According to the mayor’s office, overall homicides in London are at a 10-year low, and the city’s rate is lower than in Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Paris and all major US cities.

The rate of homicide was down by 17% in the 12-month period to June this year compared with the 12-month period to May 2016, it previously said.

Sir Sadiq speaks with a police officer during a walkabout in the West End earlier this year. File pic: PA
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Sir Sadiq speaks with a police officer during a walkabout in the West End earlier this year. File pic: PA

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams said: “We’re targeting the most dangerous individuals, disrupting criminal networks, and investing in prevention to protect those most at risk.

“That’s why fewer people are being hurt, fewer lives are being lost, and London is becoming a safer city.”

The Conservatives rejected the suggestion that London is safer.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claims 'London isn't safer'
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Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claims ‘London isn’t safer’

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Under this Labour mayor, criminals know the odds are stacked in their favour.

“Only one in 20 robberies is solved, fewer offenders are being jailed, and more than a thousand police officers have been cut from the Metropolitan Police, with Sir Mark Rowley warning of further losses this year.

“Londoners don’t feel safer because London isn’t safer.”

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Murder investigation under way after north London stabbing

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Murder investigation under way after north London stabbing

A murder investigation is under way after a fatal stabbing in north London.

The Metropolitan Police said officers and the London Ambulance Service responded to reports of stabbing in Camden Gardens, NW1, after being called at 3.29pm on Saturday.

A 44-year-old man was treated at the scene for stab wounds before being taken to hospital, where he died.

Police are awaiting formal identification and a special post-mortem will take place, the force said.

Borough Commander Jason Sewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: “My team are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to this man’s tragic death in Camden Gardens.

“Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends at this very difficult time. They continue to be supported by specialist officers.”

There will be increased patrols in the area as enquiries are made, he added. Anyone who many have information or CCTV footage is being asked to contact police.

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“This was an isolated incident and we do not believe there to be any threat to the wider public,” Cmdr Sewart said.

No arrests have been made.

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