More than 700 people crossed the English Channel in small boats on Monday, the latest figures have revealed.
Record Daily Crossings
There were 710 people thought to be migrants who arrived in the UK on Monday, the highest number on a single day so far this year. No crossings had been made between June 1 and June 14.
Cumulative Arrivals
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2026 now stands at 9,852, according to provisional figures from the Home Office. This is down 40% on the equivalent point last year, when the total stood at 16,317. It is also 14% below the same point in 2024, when the total was 11,431.
Boat Details
Eleven boats arrived on Monday, which suggests an average of about 65 people per boat. Groups of people, thought to be migrants, were seen in northern France attempting the dangerous Channel crossing on Monday. Men, women and children wearing orange life jackets were seen crowded into dinghies leaving the French coast at Berck. Some had to return to the shore after a failed attempt at making the crossing and could be seen wearing foil blankets on the shoreline.
Government Measures
The Government is currently aiming to introduce more measures to crack down on small boats crossings, including steps which could see migrants’ belongings confiscated to pay for their accommodation in the UK.
