More than 800 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Saturday, marking the highest number recorded on a single day in December, according to Home Office figures.
December is typically one of the quietest months for Channel crossings, as colder temperatures, rough seas and limited daylight make the journey more dangerous. Poor visibility is also believed to reduce crossing attempts during winter months.
Home Office data shows that 803 people crossed from northern France to the UK in 13 small boats between Friday night and Saturday morning. This is the largest daily total since 8 October, when 1,075 crossings were recorded in a single day.
So far in December 2024, 2,163 people have arrived in the UK by small boat. The highest number recorded in December was 3,254 arrivals in 2024.
Saturday’s arrivals bring the total number of Channel crossings this year to 41,455. The annual record remains 45,755 crossings, set in 2022.
Border Force vessels were seen bringing migrants into Dover, Kent, on Saturday morning, while several boats were reported leaving the French coastline the previous night.
The French maritime prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea confirmed that 151 people were rescued over the weekend and returned to France.
The UK government said it continues to focus on tackling the “upstream” causes of irregular migration, including increased cooperation with neighbouring countries.
A Home Office spokesperson said the level of small boat crossings was “unacceptable”, adding that the government had removed nearly 50,000 people who were in the UK illegally and that a recent agreement with France would allow for the return of people arriving by small boat.
France has also indicated it plans to stop small boats at sea before they can collect migrants attempting to reach the UK, following pressure from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, Germany has passed new legislation that could see people smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for attempting to facilitate illegal travel to the UK. The law, expected to come into force before the end of the year, is intended to strengthen enforcement powers and improve information-sharing between UK and German authorities.