Record-Breaking Numbers in 2025

More than 25,000 people have crossed the English Channel into the United Kingdom so far this year, marking the fastest pace of arrivals since records began in 2018. This unprecedented surge is putting increasing pressure on the UK’s Labour government as anti-immigration sentiment grows.

The latest Home Office figures show this represents a 48% increase compared to the same period last year and a striking 75% increase compared to 2023.

Current Situation and Challenges

The increase in crossings is partly attributed to favorable weather conditions, with the Home Office noting that boat arrivals typically peak during warmer summer months. The Met Office assesses the likelihood of small boat crossings daily based on forecasted conditions, including wind speed, swell, and rainfall, categorizing days as ‘red’ when crossings are likely or highly likely.

As of August 26, 2025, the Home Office has detected 180,141 migrants who have crossed the English Channel in small boats since 2018. While crossing the Channel without permission is a criminal offence under UK law, international refugee law protects asylum seekers from being penalised for such entry.

Human Cost and Safety Concerns

The journey remains extremely dangerous, with recent tragic incidents highlighting the risks. On September 3, twelve people lost their lives when an overcrowded boat’s bottom ripped open. In another incident, a rubber boat carrying 60 people hit rocks near Boulogne-sur-mer, resulting in eight deaths and six hospitalizations.

Government Response and Future Measures

New rules have been agreed upon that will allow police to enter shallow waters to prevent smaller boats from picking up migrants from beaches. Several other policing initiatives are expected to be announced this month. Additionally, the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is progressing through Parliament, which will grant counter-terror style powers to police and introduce new criminal offences to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.

In a significant development, the government announced in July 2025 a new deal with France to return some people who arrive by small boat, in exchange for accepting an equal number of asylum seekers from France.