The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats continues to rise, with 241 people brought ashore at Dover on Saturday, 22nd March. According to the latest figures from the Home Office, this brings the total number of crossings for the year up to 5,512.
This represents a significant increase compared to previous years, with 4,306 crossings recorded by the same date in 2024, 3,683 in 2023, and 3,836 in 2022, according to analysis by the PA News Agency. The highest number of arrivals in a single day this year was recorded on 2nd March, when 592 people reached UK shores in 11 boats.
Migrants continue to risk their lives amid dangerous conditions
On Sunday, men and women were seen being brought ashore by Border Force vessels at Dover, all wearing life jackets and some wrapped in blankets as they faced rainy and cold conditions. The increasing number of crossings comes despite repeated warnings about the dangers of attempting the journey in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels.
Tragically, two migrants lost their lives in the Channel last week. The French coastguard confirmed that one person died after being pulled from the water on Wednesday, while another perished on Thursday after attempting to cross in an overloaded boat. Rescuers attempted to save them, but their efforts were in vain.
UK and France strengthen co-operation to combat people smuggling
The British and French governments continue to work together to tackle the issue, with the UK signing a new “road-map” agreement with France earlier this month. The deal aims to enhance intelligence-sharing and operational co-operation to disrupt people-smuggling networks operating in northern France.
Meanwhile, the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is progressing through Parliament. The bill proposes tougher measures, including new criminal offences and counter-terror-style powers for police and enforcement agencies, to target smuggling gangs and those facilitating illegal crossings.
A spokesperson for the Home Office reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to stopping small boat crossings, stating:
“We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
Downing Street also defended the Government’s handling of the crisis, with a Number 10 spokesperson stating on Friday:
“We’ve acknowledged that there is a flow of migrants into this country by illegal means on small boats, and we’ve seen a number of incidents in French waters this week. That’s why this Government has put forward a serious, credible plan to finally restore order to the chaos we inherited in our asylum system.”
Political debate over migration intensifies
The ongoing surge in Channel crossings has reignited political tensions, with opposition parties accusing the Government of failing to control immigration. The Conservatives have criticised Labour’s approach, arguing that their policies would weaken border security.
Chris Philp MP, the Shadow Home Secretary, said:
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“The latest arrivals are proof that Labour has surrendered our borders. Their claim to be smashing the gangs has now been exposed as laughable. Crossings are soaring, the asylum backlog is growing, and thousands are still holed up in hotels at the taxpayers’ expense.
“The Government must urgently implement a removals deterrent so the illegal immigrants in France do not bother attempting the crossing. Cancelling the Rwanda removals scheme before it even started was a catastrophic mistake.”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Home Office is exploring alternative solutions for failed asylum seekers, including the possibility of sending them to overseas “return hubs” in the Balkans. A Government source confirmed that discussions are ongoing, stating:
“This is clearly a shared challenge right across the world, and we’ve always said this international problem needs an international solution. That’s why we’re looking at the widest possible set of options with a completely open mind. Any scheme we’d consider would always need to meet the test of being affordable, workable, and legal.”
Uncertain future as migration crisis deepens
With Channel crossings reaching record levels and political divisions over immigration policy intensifying, the issue remains a major challenge for the Government. As legal battles continue over asylum policies and new enforcement measures take shape, it remains to be seen whether the latest strategies will effectively reduce the number of dangerous crossings.
For now, the human cost of the crisis remains stark, as more migrants risk their lives to reach Britain, and authorities on both sides of the Channel struggle to respond to the growing humanitarian and security concerns.
