Record number of migrants arrived in the UK in the first four months of 2025 in huge embarrassment for 'smash the gangs' Keir Starmer
A record number of migrants have crossed the English channel in the first four months of 2025, new stats reveal.
Despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's promise to 'smash the gangs' crossing from France on small boats, there have already been 8,064 arrivals so far this year.
On Saturday, a record 656 migrants were picked up attempting to illegally enter the United Kingdom - the highest number to cross in a single day so far in 2025.
The total figure of crossings this year is already higher than the 7,567 people who crossed the Channel over January, February, March and April in 2024 - at the time, a record number for that period.
It is also a jump on the 5,946 arrivals in the first four months of 2023, and the 6,691 in the same period in 2022.
The cumulative total for 2025 so far of 8,064 people is up 46% on this point last year as of Saturday (5,517) and 65% higher than at this stage in 2023 (4,899), according to stats produced by PA news agency.
The 656 people recorded to have made the journey in 11 boats on Saturday is also the highest number of arrivals on a single day so far this year.
Border Force vessels intercepted 11 rubber dinghies launched from French beaches yesterday, with an average of 60 people crammed into each boat. A further 50 people were picked up by French authorities after getting into difficulties off the Pas de Calais coast.
A record number of migrants have crossed the English channel in the first four months of 2025, new stats reveal
Migrants are seen crossing the Channel. In the distance, a ship can be seen shadowing them
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to 'smash the gangs' crossing the channel in small boasts
All 28 passengers were taken to Calais, in northern France, from one boat that got into difficulty, and 19 people were rescued on another boat while the rest onboard continued their journey.
From another boat, three people were taken to the quayside in Boulogne-sur-Mer, while others on board refused assistance and continued on their way, the coastguard said.
It is thought that people smugglers took advantage of a break in harsh weather conditions to try and make the crossings.
The daily total is still some way off the highest number of daily crossings recorded, which was 1,305 on September 3 2022.
Dozens of migrants are seen packed on a boat heading for the UK in August 2024
The new stats come just days after French authorities were accused of giving illegal immigrants lifejackets instead of intercepting and turned them back.
Authorities are reportedly being overwhelmed by the numbers risking their lives crossing the 21-mile stretch of water in a dangerous bid to get to the UK.
Fisherman Matt Coker, owner of Coker Seafishing in Dover, told Times Radio: 'They're giving them life jackets now because so many of them are not getting in the boats with life jackets.
'I suppose... they're trying to avoid another tragedy.
'Then they ask for the life jackets back off the British once they've picked them up.'
Migrants are paying thousands to make the journey - with some even being given discounts if they post about it on social media (as seen here in one video)
The British Government has, once again, this week vowed to crack down on illegal immigration.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
'That's why this Government has put forward a serious, credible plan to finally restore order to our asylum system, including tougher enforcement powers, ramping up returns to their highest levels for more than half a decade and a major crackdown on illegal working to end the false promise of jobs used by gangs to sell spaces on boats.'
