Channel crossings resume after four weeks with no arrivals
Migrants appear to have arrived in Dover on Saturday after the longest period without small boat crossings in seven years.
Photos showed dozens of migrants wearing life jackets being brought to Dover, Kent, on a Border Force ship.
According to Home Office figures, no migrants had made the journey for four weeks before the weekend. The last recorded arrivals before Saturday were on November 14, the longest continuous period since 2018.
December is generally a quieter month for transits due to adverse weather conditions, which is thought to contribute to the lull.
Home Office figures on the number of migrants arriving in the UK on small boats on Saturday will be published on Sunday.
So far this year, 39,292 people have crossed the Channel; This is the highest number of any year except 2022, when 45,774 people arrived.
More than 187,000 people have arrived by small boats since 2018, when figures were first recorded.
The UK government has stepped up efforts to tackle small boat crossings in recent months, but the measures are not expected to have an immediate impact.
A Home Office spokesman added: “The number of small boat services is disgraceful and the British public deserve better.
“This government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who came here illegally and our historic agreement with the French means those who came in on small boats are now being sent back.”
At this year’s Labor Party conference, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would “dismantle” gangs smuggling people and reduce the number of crossings by 2029.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy met with ministers from other European countries last week. Discussing reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECtHR) in order to facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants.
In November, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced changes to asylum, including making refugee status in the UK temporary and subject to review every 30 months, and sending refugees home if their home country is deemed safe.
A. “one in, one out” pilot The agreement reached between England and France began in August. According to the plan, for every migrant the UK returns to France, another migrant with a strong claim to asylum in the UK comes the other way.
With this regulation, 153 people were sent back as of November 27, 2025.
