This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xgkx20dyvo
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| How many people cross the Channel in small boats and where do they come from? | How many people cross the Channel in small boats and where do they come from? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of the year. | More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of the year. |
| Under a new scheme, some people arriving in the UK on small boats will be detained and sent back to France. | Under a new scheme, some people arriving in the UK on small boats will be detained and sent back to France. |
| For every migrant returned, the UK will accept an asylum seeker who has not tried to cross and who passes security and eligibility checks. | For every migrant returned, the UK will accept an asylum seeker who has not tried to cross and who passes security and eligibility checks. |
| How many people cross the Channel in small boats? | How many people cross the Channel in small boats? |
| As of 30 July, 25,436 migrants had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025. | As of 30 July, 25,436 migrants had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025. |
| The figure is about 49% higher than at the same point in 2024. | The figure is about 49% higher than at the same point in 2024. |
| In 2024 as a whole, nearly 37,000 people were detected making the crossing - 25% more than in 2023. | In 2024 as a whole, nearly 37,000 people were detected making the crossing - 25% more than in 2023. |
| The highest yearly total was recorded in 2022, when 45,755 people arrived. | The highest yearly total was recorded in 2022, when 45,755 people arrived. |
| More than 170,000 people have arrived in small boats since figures were first recorded in 2018. | More than 170,000 people have arrived in small boats since figures were first recorded in 2018. |
| A decade of small boat migrants: How did it begin? | A decade of small boat migrants: How did it begin? |
| Record number of lone children on small boats | Record number of lone children on small boats |
| What is the government doing to reduce small boat crossings? | What is the government doing to reduce small boat crossings? |
| Number 10 wants to work more closely with France to reduce crossings. | Number 10 wants to work more closely with France to reduce crossings. |
| It has been reported that the "one in, one out" deal could see about 50 migrants a week sent each way in the initial pilot, although the UK government has not confirmed numbers. | It has been reported that the "one in, one out" deal could see about 50 migrants a week sent each way in the initial pilot, although the UK government has not confirmed numbers. |
| Under the plan, an adult migrant who tries to get to the UK by crossing the Channel could be returned to France if their claim for asylum was deemed to be inadmissible. Returns could begin to take place within weeks. | |
| The BBC understands that an asylum claim made by anyone arriving in the UK via small boat will be considered inadmissible. However, mental health and security checks will still be made, followed by screening about suitability for detention and removal. | |
| Critics - including the Conservatives - have pointed out the numbers expected to be returned would be a small proportion of those crossing. They question whether the scheme would deter migrants. | Critics - including the Conservatives - have pointed out the numbers expected to be returned would be a small proportion of those crossing. They question whether the scheme would deter migrants. |
| The charity Asylum Matters has also criticised the measure, arguing: "The only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe routes to seek sanctuary." | The charity Asylum Matters has also criticised the measure, arguing: "The only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe routes to seek sanctuary." |
| The UK government also wants French police to intercept so-called taxi boats in shallow waters. These cruise along the coastline, picking up people waiting in the sea. | The UK government also wants French police to intercept so-called taxi boats in shallow waters. These cruise along the coastline, picking up people waiting in the sea. |
| BBC on French beach as police slash migrant 'taxi-boat' | BBC on French beach as police slash migrant 'taxi-boat' |
| Why do Channel migrants want to come to the UK? | Why do Channel migrants want to come to the UK? |
| In July, it announced that 25 people including gang leaders and small boat suppliers had had their assets frozen and been banned from travelling to the UK. | In July, it announced that 25 people including gang leaders and small boat suppliers had had their assets frozen and been banned from travelling to the UK. |
| The government has also announced £100m to fund 300 National Crime Agency Officers to stop people smugglers arranging the crossings. | The government has also announced £100m to fund 300 National Crime Agency Officers to stop people smugglers arranging the crossings. |
| Ministers are also spending £150m to establish a new Border Security Command. | Ministers are also spending £150m to establish a new Border Security Command. |
| Rules have been toughened up to make it almost impossible for anyone who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen. | Rules have been toughened up to make it almost impossible for anyone who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen. |
| Previously, refugees who entered this way could apply for UK citizenship after 10 years. The Refugee Council estimates at least 71,000 people will be affected. | Previously, refugees who entered this way could apply for UK citizenship after 10 years. The Refugee Council estimates at least 71,000 people will be affected. |
| Any offender sentenced to more than a year in prison can currently be refused asylum and deported under the Refugee Convention. | Any offender sentenced to more than a year in prison can currently be refused asylum and deported under the Refugee Convention. |
| The government wants to extend this to include any asylum seeker convicted of sexual offences. | The government wants to extend this to include any asylum seeker convicted of sexual offences. |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Philp blamed the recent increase in crossings on Labour "tearing up" the Conservatives' plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda. | Shadow home secretary Chris Philp blamed the recent increase in crossings on Labour "tearing up" the Conservatives' plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda. |
| "This is the worst year on record, and it's become a free-for-all," he added. | "This is the worst year on record, and it's become a free-for-all," he added. |
| In 2023, the then Conservative government agreed to give France almost £500m over three years to pay for extra officers to help stop migrants. | In 2023, the then Conservative government agreed to give France almost £500m over three years to pay for extra officers to help stop migrants. |
| Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? | Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? |
| How many people die crossing the Channel? | How many people die crossing the Channel? |
| The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, tracks the number of people who die attempting to cross the Channel. | The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, tracks the number of people who die attempting to cross the Channel. |
| Its figures include people who were travelling to a crossing point and died in other circumstances, such as car crashes or because of medical issues. | Its figures include people who were travelling to a crossing point and died in other circumstances, such as car crashes or because of medical issues. |
| The IOM estimates that at least 82 migrants died in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record. | The IOM estimates that at least 82 migrants died in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record. |
| At the end of June it said that at least 18 people had died on this route in 2025. That takes the total number of migrants who have lost their lives since 2018 to 247. | At the end of June it said that at least 18 people had died on this route in 2025. That takes the total number of migrants who have lost their lives since 2018 to 247. |
| The Refugee Council has said that the dangers of crossings have increased, with more people crammed into less seaworthy boats. | The Refugee Council has said that the dangers of crossings have increased, with more people crammed into less seaworthy boats. |
| Man dies crossing English Channel | Man dies crossing English Channel |
| RNLI crew defends 'compassionate' migrant rescues | RNLI crew defends 'compassionate' migrant rescues |
| Who is crossing the Channel in small boats? | Who is crossing the Channel in small boats? |
| Afghans were the top nationality arriving by small boat in the year to March 2025, according to Home Office figures. | Afghans were the top nationality arriving by small boat in the year to March 2025, according to Home Office figures. |
| Syrians made up the second largest group, followed by people from Iran, Vietnam and Eritrea. | Syrians made up the second largest group, followed by people from Iran, Vietnam and Eritrea. |
| These five nationalities accounted for 61% of all arrivals. | These five nationalities accounted for 61% of all arrivals. |
| In 2024, almost one third of the 108,000 people who claimed asylum in the UK arrived on a small boat. | In 2024, almost one third of the 108,000 people who claimed asylum in the UK arrived on a small boat. |
| The Home Office can remove people with no legal right to stay in the UK, or refuse to let them enter. | The Home Office can remove people with no legal right to stay in the UK, or refuse to let them enter. |
| Between 2018 and December 2024, 4,995 people who came to the UK in small boats were returned to their home country - about 3% of the total. | Between 2018 and December 2024, 4,995 people who came to the UK in small boats were returned to their home country - about 3% of the total. |
| Smuggler reveals operation to help Vietnamese reach UK | Smuggler reveals operation to help Vietnamese reach UK |
| People smuggler advertised Channel boat crossings on Facebook | People smuggler advertised Channel boat crossings on Facebook |
| How do UK small boat arrivals compare with those to Europe? | How do UK small boat arrivals compare with those to Europe? |
| There were more than 180,000 arrivals by sea in Europe during 2024, with Italy receiving more than a third. | There were more than 180,000 arrivals by sea in Europe during 2024, with Italy receiving more than a third. |
| Greece and Spain also received large numbers. | Greece and Spain also received large numbers. |
| In the year ending September 2024, 1.1 million people claimed asylum in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA), down 3% compared with the previous year. | In the year ending September 2024, 1.1 million people claimed asylum in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA), down 3% compared with the previous year. |
| Germany received the most applicants - 294,415. France was second (162,390) followed by Italy (162,305) and Spain (161,470). | Germany received the most applicants - 294,415. France was second (162,390) followed by Italy (162,305) and Spain (161,470). |