Small-boat crossings from France to UK fall to seven-year low

Small-boat crossings from France to the United Kingdom have reached a seven-year low, according to the latest data. British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood attributes this decline to a recent border agreement with France. The summer months, typically the busiest for migrants attempting to reach the UK via small boats, saw the lowest combined total of crossings since 2019, and the lowest number of illegal migrant arrivals since 2020.

In the period from June 1 to August 30, there were 102 Channel crossings, a significant drop from 224 for the same period in 2025. August saw the lowest number of crossings since records began in 2018, with a 46% decrease from the previous year. July recorded the fewest crossings for that month since 2019, down 64% compared to 2025, with the lowest number of migrant arrivals since 2020, down 58% from last year.

June also saw its lowest level of crossings since 2019, down 50% from 2025, and the lowest number of migrant arrivals since 2021, down 47% from last year.

Home Secretary Mahmood signed a deal in April that allocated £661 million ($895 million) to enhance police enforcement on French beaches by 40%. This included measures to prevent small-boat launches, seize boats and engines used by criminal gangs, and arrest suspected people smugglers. French police teams funded through this UK-France agreement prevented 185 small-boat crossings between April 27 and August 2, accounting for 61% of all small-boat events during this period.

While the number of boat crossings has decreased, there are concerns that the remaining crossings may now carry more people. Last month, a "mega dinghy" carrying 230 migrants was intercepted. Last summer, 14,191 migrants arrived via small boats, with an average of 63 people per vessel. This summer, 7,371 people arrived, averaging 72 people per crossing.

Home Secretary Mahmood stated that the efforts are "beginning to bear fruit," but emphasized that more work needs to be done. She vowed to continue targeting criminal gangs behind these crossings and removing the incentives that draw people to unsafe and illegal routes. The UK-French action has prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts since Labour took power in 2024.

The National Crime Agency, in collaboration with international partners, has seized over 1,100 boats and engines, disrupting the supply of small boat equipment. Over 80,000 people have been removed or returned from the UK illegally since the 2024 election.