How Many Migrants Are Reaching the UK on Small Boats Expose

Eighty percent of migrants attempting the risky journey across the English Channel from France to England are successful, according to new figures. This means that four out of every five people who set out on small boats manage to reach Britain. The findings, based on three years of data, shed light on the scale of the ongoing crisis, despite significant efforts to curb it.

The analysis revealed that the number of migrants making the crossing has steadily increased. In 2022, around 37,000 people attempted the dangerous voyage, rising to 45,000 in 2023 and 56,000 in 2024. Over this period, more than 112,000 people successfully crossed the Channel, while an estimated 24,000 failed. The data comes from a study by French officials, who examined crossing attempts and relied on records from police and emergency services.

This growing trend persists despite the UK Government spending tens of millions of pounds on measures to prevent crossings. Investments have included enhanced policing on the French coast, CCTV, drones, new technology, and physical barriers like fences. Yet, the flow of migrants has not slowed. French authorities have been overwhelmed, carrying out 830 rescue operations to save migrants from overcrowded and sinking boats. French rescuers have expressed frustration, saying they lack sufficient resources to handle the crisis.

A prosecution source in Calais acknowledged the severity of the problem, stating, “It shows an awful lot more work is needed to stop this problem once and for all.”

The issue has also drawn criticism from migration advocates and political figures. Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migration Watch UK, expressed his disappointment with the UK Government’s approach. “This shows the Government does not have a proper plan in place to solve the problem. They are all for catchphrases and not action. They scrapped Rwanda, the only plan we had in place, and have not come up with any proper deterrent,” he said. Mehmet also warned that the situation is unlikely to improve in 2025, as smugglers continue to exploit the situation. “People traffickers are laughing in the faces of the British establishment,” he added.

The Labour Party, meanwhile, has pledged to take stronger action against people-smuggling networks. Their proposals include imposing financial penalties and freezing the assets of those involved in trafficking operations. However, questions remain about whether these measures will be enough to significantly reduce the crossings.

The crisis, which began escalating in 2018, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by both the UK and French governments. Despite the financial investments and political attention, the issue of migrants crossing the Channel remains a persistent and contentious problem, with no clear solution in sight.