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In 2009, UKBA says it prevented more than 29,000 individual
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attempts to cross the Channel from its four control points in northern France.
The chances of making it across to Britain undetected therefore appear slim. So why do so many people attempt to make the crossing illegally, particularly as they often endure extreme hardship while making the journey from their country of origin?
Laura Padoan, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which co-ordinates action to protect refugees, says misinformation is part of the problem. "People are told that once they reach the UK, the streets are paved with gold and everything will be wonderful."
The main source of illegal migrants to the UK is countries suffering from war, conflict and violence. These currently include
Zimbabwe, Somalia and Afghanistan. Padoan says people trying to cross the Channel illegally appear to be from Afghanistan in particular. "The UK is seen to be somewhere that does respect human rights and there's a larger Afghan population here than in France."
She adds that many people making the attempt are teenagers who are under an obligation to their families to reach the UK.