The total number of migrants to have reached Britain since the start of the Channel crisis is poised to surpass 200,000. This grim milestone looks set to be passed today, after more than 400 arrivals on Sunday brought the running tally to 199,828.
Migrant Numbers Equivalent to Norwich Population
Official data published by the Home Office shows that 199,828 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats since the first recorded crossing on January 31, 2018. The 200,000 migrants are equivalent to the population of a city the size of Norwich.
There were 422 arrivals yesterday aboard six dinghies intercepted mid-Channel by UK Border Force and brought into Dover. This followed 325 crossings on Saturday and 55 on Friday.
UK Border Force catamaran Defender has already been in operation in the Channel today and has brought scores more migrants ashore, in addition to the confirmed total. Official totals for today will not be published until later, but it is likely to push the total past the 200,000 mark.
Historical Context and Government Response
At the end of 2018, then Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared a national emergency when migrant crossings began to become more frequent, even though by the end of the year fewer than 300 had arrived.
Last month, Labour confirmed British taxpayers are to hand the French up to £660 million for small boat patrols, pushing the total paid since the start of the crisis past £1.3 billion. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood agreed to give Emmanuel Macron's government a core package of £500 million over the next three years to continue funding anti-migrant operations by French police. A further £160 million will also be handed over to fund new tactics by the French, including stopping dinghies once they are already in the water.
A previous three-year, £500 million deal was agreed in 2023 by then Conservative PM Rishi Sunak, and during the lifetime of that agreement more than 84,000 migrants reached Britain.
