Border Force officials brought groups of people, believed to be migrants, into Dover on Saturday morning following a series of overnight small boat crossings from northern France.
Busy Night on the Channel
Witnesses reported seeing people leaving the coast of northern France on Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday, making the perilous journey across the English Channel. The arrivals were subsequently processed at the Border Force compound in the Kent port.
This latest incident contributes to a significant total for the year. Analysis of Government figures by the Press Association reveals that 40,652 migrants have now made the crossing since the start of 2025.
Rising Numbers and International Action
While the rate of crossings has increased more swiftly this year compared to previous periods, the annual total has not yet surpassed the record set in 2022, when 45,755 people arrived.
The UK government continues to focus on tackling the root causes of the migration crisis through international cooperation. A significant development this week saw Germany pass a new law targeting people smugglers. The legislation, which will come into force before the end of the year, could see smugglers face up to 10 years in prison for attempting to bring migrants to the UK.
This change aims to empower law enforcement and prosecutors and improve information sharing between the UK and Germany. It follows a bilateral deal agreed in December last year to combat illegal migration, which included action against smugglers' advertising on social media platforms.
Government Response and Future Cooperation
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the German legislative move. She stated, "This major change in German law is the result of our close partnership working to tackle illegal migration and organised immigration crime."
She added, "We will continue to ramp up our international co-operation to strengthen our own border security." The government's strategy remains centred on addressing so-called "upstream" causes through collaborative work with neighbouring nations.
