Latest news with #ChannelCrossings
Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
The government needs a viable plan to stop the small boats
There are some milestones that no government wants to meet early. Hitting 20,000 arrivals by small boats in the first six months of this year is one of them. According to the latest Home Office figures, the number of people who crossed the English Channel illegally was up 48 per cent compared with the first six months of 2024, and up 75 per cent on the same period in 2023. The warm weather this summer has played a role in this rise, but far more important has been the government's failing strategy on illegal migration. The 20,000 crossings threshold has been reached much earlier in 2025 than in previous years. In 2022, the year that total arrivals hit an all-time high of nearly 46,000, the threshold was not reached until August 14. The new figures suggest Britain is on course to break the 2022 record and that illegal crossings could reach 50,000 before the year end. Were that to happen, it would represent another blow for Sir Keir Starmer's credibility: the prime minister has repeatedly promised to succeed where his Conservative predecessors failed and 'stop the boats'. Ministers are said to be confident that new measures will begin to reduce the numbers, including a promise by French police to intercept boats up to 300 metres from the coastline. These tweaks may result in small decreases but they are no substitute for a serious deterrent for those seeking to cross the Channel. Until there is a realistic prospect that illegal immigrants will be immediately removed from this country and processed elsewhere, the demand for what has become the Channel taxi service will continue apace. The prime minister pledged in opposition to scrap the Rwanda scheme for processing illegal arrivals offshore, and duly did so on his first day in office. Although the scheme was thwarted by legal challenges, Sir Keir must regret turning his face against a deterrent strategy last year. Small boat crossings have risen relentlessly, forcing the government to accept the inevitable and explore the use of overseas 'returns hubs', most likely in the Balkans. However, Sir Keir is pinning his hopes for meaningful reductions on a returns deal with France, which has so far eluded him during his first year in office. President Macron will make a state visit to the UK next week, and a 'one-in, one-out' deal is in the offing. The prime minister hopes this can break the business model of smuggling gangs and choke off their trade. If such a pact is struck, Britain would finally be able to send illegal migrants back to France. But in return, it would have to admit an equal number of migrants who have a legitimate case for reuniting with relatives here. Of course, the success of the scheme relies on co-operation with France, which has happily taken British money for years while failing to turn off the flow of small boats. It can only be hoped that this deal, if concluded, will produce some results. It may do nothing to reduce overall admissions but at least the dangerous cross-Channel trade might be curtailed or ended. And it could end also the flow of images of boats crammed with refugees that has benighted successive administrations. The impact of illegal migration is stark. As well as the burden for the Home Office of processing the claims, analysis reported in The Times suggests that migrants arriving by small boat are 25 times more likely to end up in prison than an average Briton. Mired in the welfare fiasco, Sir Keir needs a win. He must hope Mr Macron will oblige.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Channel crossings by migrants pass 20,000 in record time
The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in a single year has passed 20,000 in record time. Some 440 people made the journey in eight boats on Tuesday, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 20,422, Home Office figures confirmed. This is up 50% on this point last year (13,574) and 79% higher than at this stage in 2023 (11,433), according to PA news agency analysis. It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 20,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018. Last year the figure was passed on August 28, and in 2023 it was August 29. The first year in which at least 20,000 arrivals were recorded was 2022, when the milestone was passed on August 14, and the total went on to hit a record 45,774 by the end of December. The figures come as Channel crossings continued on Wednesday, with pictures showing migrants in life jackets and blankets disembarking a Border Force vessel in Dover, Kent. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden told LBC on Wednesday 'everyone in Government knows it's a big challenge'. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: 'We are going to have to work harder to bring the numbers down. 'Everyone in Government knows it's a big challenge, and as a team we are determined to meet it.' Pressed specifically on whether the numbers would be down by this time next year, Mr McFadden said: 'I'm not going to make a prediction.' Asked again for an assurance that the numbers will reduce, he added: 'I can give you an assurance that the numbers at the moment are too high. We are working together to tackle this.' The Government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is continuing through Parliament, and will hand counter terror-style powers to police and introduce new criminal offences to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. It has been reported that the UK and France are agreeing a one in, one out migrant returns deal, under which migrants who arrive in the UK by small boats are returned to France, in exchange for the UK accepting those with legitimate claims to join family already in the country. Meanwhile French officials have also agreed to changes that would allow police patrolling the coast to take action in the sea when migrants climb into boats from the water, which is yet to come into effect. The UK's borders watchdog, David Bolt, said in June he did not feel 'very optimistic about the ability to smash the gangs', adding that with organised crime 'the best thing you can do is deflect it to something else you're less concerned about rather than expect to eradicate it'. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'One year into Labour's Government and the boats haven't stopped – they've multiplied. 'Labour tore up our deterrent and replaced it with fantasy. 'This is the worst year on record, and it's become a free-for-all. 'We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe. 'The crossings will then rapidly stop.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Channel crossings by migrants pass 20,000 in record time
The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in a single year has passed 20,000 in record time. Some 440 people made the journey in eight boats on Tuesday, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 20,422, Home Office figures confirmed. This is up 50% on this point last year (13,574) and 79% higher than at this stage in 2023 (11,433), according to PA news agency analysis. It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 20,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018. Last year the figure was passed on August 28, and in 2023 it was August 29. The first year in which at least 20,000 arrivals were recorded was 2022, when the milestone was passed on August 14, and the total went on to hit a record 45,774 by the end of December. The figures come as ministers continue to grapple with Channel crossings. The Government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is continuing through Parliament, and will hand counterterror-style powers to police and introduce new criminal offences to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. It has been reported that the UK and France are agreeing a one in, one out migrant returns deal, under which migrants who arrive in the UK by small boats are returned to France, in exchange for the UK accepting those with legitimate claims to join family already in the country. French officials have also agreed to changes that would allow police patrolling the coast to take action in the sea when migrants climb into boats from the water, which is yet to come into effect.
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Inept French cops given millions of YOUR cash for planes, 4x4s & drones STILL fail to stop migrant boats
FRENCH cops paraded around in a buggy paid for by the UK — as dinghy migrants set sail. On yet another shambolic day, the number of arrivals here hit a record 20,000 since the start of 2025. 7 Critics said the £500million of taxpayer cash given to France had turned its beaches into 'the world's most expensive sieve'. Patrols with jeeps, quad bikes and drones were pictured on the sand yesterday as smugglers prepared to launch more dinghies. On Monday alone, 879 reached British shores, the third biggest daily total in 2025. We saw patrols at Gravelines near Dunkirk, and Équihen, west of Calais. The crisis is now 48 per cent worse than this time last year and 75 per cent higher than in 2023, according to Home Office figures. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: 'Record numbers of young undocumented males have crossed this year thanks to French beaches being the world's most expensive sieve — this is a disaster for the country. 'They are costing us money, making us less safe, and they bring a terrorist threat. 'This will only get worse under the weakest Prime Minister I have ever seen.' PM Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are due to meet in London next week for a State visit and a summit focused on tackling the crossings. The UK first signed a deal with France under the last Tory government, with nearly £500million committed to extra patrols, surveillance drones, vehicles and riot vans. Illegal Channel migrant delivery riders ARRESTED as cops swoop on major asylum hotel after Sun expose Sir Keir has extended the commitment. The leaders are also preparing to unveil a new 'one in, one out' migrant returns deal — sending some Channel arrivals to France in exchange for Britain accepting migrants with family reunion rights. But the Tories have branded the plan a 'fantasy' and demanded their Rwanda scheme be reinstated. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'One year into Labour 's government and the boats haven't stopped, they've multiplied. 'It's become a free-for-all. 'We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed outside Europe. 'The crossings will then rapidly stop.' Sir Keir has faced pressure to deliver on his promise to ' smash the gangs ' fuelling the crisis. 7 7 But Downing Street insisted it will take time to solve it, warning 'it's not simple' to dismantle international smuggling networks. The PM's spokesman said the figures were 'clearly unacceptable', adding: 'But let's be clear, gangs have been allowed to embed industrial-scale smuggling enterprises across Europe, whilst our own asylum system collapsed through failed policies like Rwanda. 'But we are taking action.' The spokesman pointed to arrests of gang leaders, thousands of boat seizures, and closer ties with France. 7 7
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Britain's small boats crisis hits new record with whopping near 20k illegal migrants crossing Channel so far this year
BRITAIN's small boat crisis has smashed records with nearly 20,000 migrants crossing the Channel in just six months — the highest total ever for the first half of the year. Official figures show 19,982 people have made the dangerous journey in 2025 as crossings spiral weeks ahead of last year's pace. 2 2 Downing Street has urged voters to be patient, insisting 'it's not simple' to smash the criminal gangs driving the surge and warning 'it's going to take time.' The crisis is now 48 per cent worse than this time last year and 75 per cent higher than in 2023. Another 879 migrants arrived on Monday alone, the third biggest daily total so far this year, with smugglers exploiting the heatwave. More boats were seen leaving French beaches this morning, with officials expecting the total to smash through the 20,000 mark. Monday saw 13 boats carrying an average of 68 people each, as organised crime gangs continue to cash in. The worst day so far this year saw 1,195 arrivals, while the all-time daily record remains 1,305, set in September 2022. The Tories blasted Labour for tearing up their Rwanda deportation plan and replacing it with 'fantasy'. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "One year into Labour's government and the boats haven't stopped - they've multiplied. This is the worst year on record, and it's become a free-for-all. 'We need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe. The crossings will then rapidly stop." Asked about the record numbers, the Prime Minister's spokesman said the figures were 'clearly unacceptable'. He said: "More people are being crammed into unseaworthy vessels, as we are restricting supply to equipment, and gangs putting even more lives at risk. But let's be clear, the rising numbers in recent years are because these gangs have been allowed to embed industrial scale smuggling enterprises across Europe, whilst our own asylum system collapsed through failed policies like Rwanda. But we are taking action." The spokesman pointed to arrests of gang leaders and better cooperation with France, saying this was down to 'the Prime Minister's efforts to reset our relationship across Europe'. But he admitted: 'Fixing a broken immigration system and taking on a global challenge like this won't happen overnight. It will take time for our new policies and approach to turn the tide on years of ineffective measures. 'We're not going to put an arbitrary timeframe on it. We are clear it's going to take time. It's not simple to dismantle an embedded criminal structure that crosses borders. It requires international partnerships and international solutions.'
