Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that his administration will be "relentless" in tackling the number of migrants arriving in the UK via small boats. The statement comes as the number of arrivals since Burnham took office two weeks ago surpassed 2,000, following the crossing of 326 people on Saturday.
To address the issue, the government is shifting its strategy by doubling the number of enforcement officers targeting people-smuggling syndicates on both sides of the English Channel. According to the Home Office, the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers focused on these smuggling networks has increased to nearly 800, up from 376 at the beginning of 2025. Burnham confirmed that French authorities have similarly doubled their officer deployment.
The political debate surrounding illegal migration has intensified following an incident on Thursday where tens of thousands of migrants swam into Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. Burnham pointed out that 98% of those who swam to the territory were returned to Morocco, which resolved the immediate situation. However, he emphasized a wider challenge regarding the Schengen area and the UK's relationship with it, expressing a desire for regular dialogue with the European Union on these matters.
Between January 1 and July 29, 2026, a total of 14,128 people reached the UK by crossing the Channel from France in small boats. This represents a 42% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. Overall, crossings so far this year are down by approximately 43% compared to 2025, though attempts typically increase during the summer due to improved weather conditions.
Since 2020, small boat crossings have been the most frequent method of unauthorized entry detected in the UK. Almost all individuals arriving via this route apply for asylum, allowing them to remain in the country under international law while their cases are evaluated. Between April 2025 and March 2026, small boat arrivals accounted for 42% of all asylum applications. During the year ending July 29, 2026, boats carried an average of 67 people, a figure that has more than doubled since 2021. Experts warn that this overcrowding significantly increases the hazards of the journey; the United Nations reported that at least 84 people died attempting the Channel crossing in 2024.
In terms of overall migration, small boat arrivals constituted about 5% of total immigration into the UK during the calendar year of 2025. Between April 2025 and March 2026, individuals from Eritrea made up 18% of those arriving by small boat. During that same period, another 4,535 people were detected entering the UK without permission through other means, such as hiding in vehicles, boarding ferries, or passing through airports—a 22% drop from the previous year. Additionally, some individuals enter the UK legally on work or study visas but overstay their permitted duration, though the total number of people living in the country illegally after legal entry remains unknown.
The government has committed to "smash the gangs" behind the human trafficking operations. The Home Office reported that last year saw nearly 300 arrests of smuggling gang members and the confiscation of more than 1,100 small boats and engines. Officials stated that the seized equipment, if utilized by the NCA-targeted networks, could have enabled an additional 72,000 illegal entries.
Acknowledging these developments, Burnham remarked, "Clearly, progress is being made, but we're not complacent."
