More than 41,000 people have successfully crossed the English Channel in small boats this year, a significant increase highlighted by recent activity over the weekend. On Saturday alone, 803 individuals undertook the perilous journey in 13 dinghies departing from northern France. This brings the total number of Channel crossings in 2025 to 41,455.
The crossings recorded on Saturday mark the largest daily total since October 8, when 1,075 people made the journey in a single day. Additionally, these figures represent a potential record for daily crossings in December, based on data available since 2018. Historical patterns indicate that December is typically one of the quieter months for such crossings due to adverse weather conditions. The highest number of arrivals recorded in December remains 3,254 in 2024. So far this month, 2,163 individuals have crossed the Channel.
On Saturday morning, a Border Force vessel was observed bringing individuals, believed to be migrants, into Dover following an incident in the Channel. This followed a busy night in which numerous boats were seen departing the French coast.
Efforts to address the underlying causes of the migration crisis continue. The UK Government is working with neighboring countries to tackle issues driving migration. Recently, Germany enacted a new law aimed at severely penalizing people smugglers, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years for those attempting to bring migrants to the UK. This legislation, expected to take effect before the end of the year, aims to enhance the powers of law enforcement and improve information sharing between the UK and Germany.
In parallel, France has indicated plans to intercept small boats at sea before they can embark on the journey to the UK, reflecting a growing international commitment to manage and control migration across the Channel.
