The number of migrants seeking to cross the Channel from France to the English coast in small boats rose 68 percent in the first half of 2022, the French interior ministry said, Monday as the UK seeks to toughen its policy against arrivals. From January 1 to June 13, there were 777 attempted crossings involving 20,132 people, up 68 percent on the same period last year, the ministry told AFP, adding French security forces had prevented over 60 percent of the crossings.