More than 1,000 migrants pass English Channel in an afternoon

More than 1,100 migrants arrived in the United Kingdom after crossing the English Channel on Saturday, the easiest quantity recorded on a unmarried day to this point in 2025.

The newest Home Office figures confirmed 1,194 humans arrived in 18 small boats.

This yr may just see a brand new document set, with the collection of arrivals to this point being the easiest recorded within the first 5 months of a yr.

On Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Defence Secretary John Healey stated Britain had “lost control of its borders over the last five years”.

The most up-to-date arrivals convey the once a year general to this point to 14,811, up 42% in this time final yr and 95% up from the similar level in 2023.

Almost 37,000 humans crossed the Channel in small boats in 2024 however the easiest figures had been for 2022, when 45,755 humans arrived.

The easiest day by day general of arrivals since knowledge started in 2018 was once 1,305, which was once recorded on 3 September, 2022.

Healey referred to as the scenes of migrants being picked up by way of smugglers “like a taxi” to be delivered to the United Kingdom “shocking”.

He stated an settlement was once in position with French government, who rescued 184 on Saturday, to modify the best way they labored.

“Our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore,” Healey added.

A Home Office spokesperson stated: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

“The people-smuggling gangs don’t care if the prone humans they exploit reside or die, so long as they pay, and we can forestall at not anything to dismantle their industry fashions and convey them to justice.

“That is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.”

Additional reporting from PA Media.