New figures show that more than 20,000 people have made the perilous journey across the English Channel since January – and a charity has warned they will not stop despite it now being 'a risky time of year'.

A rescue mission on Tuesday saw UK authorities intercept 456 people, bringing the total figure to a record high this year.

Bridget Chapman from Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) has spoken out and says it is time for the government to "have an adult conversation" about the humanitarian crisis on our doorstep in Kent.

The number of people who have got into small boats and risked the dangerous trip now stands at more than double the total number for 2020.

Among those being brought ashore in Dover earlier this week was a young girl holding the hand of a man as she was led away from the water. Staff were spotted carrying away a bright, tropical printed dinghy which had been used to navigate the busy shipping lane.

Last week, an incident occurred in which as many as three people remain unaccounted for. Home Secretary Priti Patel described it as "appalling" and an "absolute tragedy".

It has also been revealed that several unaccompanied children have gone missing from a Folkestone hotel in which they had been placed.

Bridget Chapman speaking out on why people choose to make the dangerous journey

KRAN provides help and support to young asylum seekers and refugees. Project co-ordinator Bridget believes that although the number of crossings by boat have increased, it's important to look at the bigger picture and the total number of people crossing into the UK by other means has decreased.

She said: "20,000 people crossing the Channel is 20,000 people too many. People are coming by boat because they don't have any other options.

"We've spent a lot of money as a country fortifying the port at Calais, making it a lot more difficult for people to gain access by coming along stowed away in a lorry.

"People now feel that this is their only option to gain access to seek asylum in the UK – they are legally entitled to do that."

Many of the trips are facilitated by organised crime groups – they exploit those who are desperate to flee their home country due to war or persecution.

However, many who decide to make the journey on a small boat have often been sold the idea of luxury travel and many don't even know which country they are heading too.

Especially in the winter, they risk hypothermia or drowning, with some boats deflating or sinking before they cross the stretch of sea.

Bridget added: "The one thing that Priti Patel and I can agree on 100% is that we need to stop the trafficking gangs and the way to do that is by giving people a better option.

"If there was a safe option to come here nobody would use a trafficking gang, so overnight you would destroy the business."

Bridget continued that although the Home Office says it wants to put an end to trafficking gangs, its actions are not showing this.

She said: "We need a really grown up conversation about this, but I can't see any signs of this at the moment and that really worries me. We're heading into winter and the weather is going to get worse.

"As we've seen in previous winters, people don't stop coming as we move into November – we're moving into a particularly risky time of the year.

"We would urge the government to step back and deal with this in a much more adult and humanitarian way.

"As part of a global community it is our duty to do our fair share – I'm not talking any more than that.

"At the moment we're not doing anything like that so we really need to step up."

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