Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeFour people have died attempting to cross the English Channel on "taxi-boats" for migrants. Another man has reportedly died in the Pas-de-Calais after attempting to reach the UK on a small boat. Overall this year, the number of small boat crossings to the UK is down on 2025, with around 12,500 people arriving this way so far in 2026. She added: “The evidence from the Ukrainian visa scheme shows that safe routes stop crossings, and it saves live.