‘Shameful’ 41,000 people reached UK by small boat last year, says Home Office

Second highest annual number of irregular arrivals on record reached British shores in 2025

More than 41,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, figures branded “shameful” by the Home Office have revealed.

The government said 41,472 people arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in 2025 – the second highest number on record after 45,774 made the journey in 2022.

The number of crossings was running at the highest level on record for much of the year, but the pace slowed in the last two months of 2025. The total for the year ended up being 13% higher than the figure for 2024.

Keir Starmer had fought the election in 2024 promising to “smash the gangs” and last year negotiated a “one-in, one-out” returns deal with France to act as a disincentive.