Small boats crossings have passed 25,000 for the year – weeks earlier than in 2024.
Home Office figures show 898 people were recorded crossing the Channel yesterday in 13 boats, bringing the total for 2025 to 25,436.
It signals further struggles for the government as it looks to reduce the number of people entering the UK clandestinely.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to “smash the gangs”, after Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” failed.
The 25,000 mark of people crossing for 2024 was passed on 22 September – almost two months later than this year. At this point last year, 16,842 people had crossed the Channel.
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