Burnham pledges to be 'relentless' in curbing small boat crossings

Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, has vowed to relentlessly tackle the influx of individuals arriving in the UK via small boats. He acknowledged that progress had been made and the government was altering its approach, with enforcement officers doubling on both sides of the Channel. Burnham emphasized that people want this issue addressed, adding that a system offering safe routes must also be established.

He noted that 98% of migrants who swam to Ceuta had been returned to Morocco, which he claimed dealt with the immediate problem. However, he added that the broader issue of the Schengen area and the UK's relationship with it must be addressed. Burnham highlighted that the Home Office had almost 800 NCA officers tackling smuggling gangs, doubling the number from 376 at the start of 2025, and a similar increase in French officers.

He expressed a desire to change the tone of the debate around small boats, stating the public doesn't like the idea that the border doesn't look controlled. Between January and July 2026, 14,128 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France, a 42% decrease from the same period the previous year. These crossings have become the most common way for people to enter the UK illegally since 2020, and nearly all claim asylum.

Small boat arrivals made up 42% of asylum applications between April 2025 and March 2026. At least 84 people died while attempting the crossing in 2024, according to the UN. The government aims to "smash the gangs" behind these crossings to reduce the numbers, with nearly 300 arrests of smuggling gang members and over 1,100 small boats seized last year.