SUMMER SMALL BOAT CROSSINGS FALL TO A SEVEN-YEAR LOW
Crossings Fall as Enforcement Increases
Summer small boat crossings have fallen to their lowest level in seven years.
June, July and August recorded the lowest combined total for crossings since 2019, with August crossings down 46% on last year, July down 64% and June down 50%.
This follows strengthened joint action with France to crack down on the criminal gangs responsible for these dangerous crossings and prevent launches from French beaches.
Under the payment-by-results UK-France deal, French police teams prevented 185 small boat crossing events between 27 April and 2 August in their first three months – 61% of all crossing events during this period.
🚔 This included action to stop launches, seize boats and engines used by criminal gangs, and arrest suspected people-smugglers.
But we know there is more to do. We will be relentless in targeting the criminal gangs behind these crossings and continue to remove the incentives that draw people here on unsafe and illegal routes.