English Channel migrant total hits 25,000 in July

More than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far in 2025, the first time that number has been reached as early as July, according to official figures.

The Home Office said 898 people were brought ashore in Dover on Wednesday, bringing the annual total so far to 25,436.

Since the government started releasing the numbers of arrivals in 2018, the earliest the annual total reached 25,000 was on 27 August in 2022.

The government said it was sharing intelligence and strengthening cross-border co-operation with France to tackle people smuggling gangs, and on Thursday the National Crime Agency announced it had worked with Bulgarian authorities to seize 25 small boats intended for use in the Channel.

In the whole of 2020 there were 8,461 crossings, and in 2019 that number was 1,835.

In 2018 there were 297 people recorded making the journey, although figures were only published from 3 November.

The annual total for 2025 hit 10,000 at the end of April, and 20,000 by the end of June.

Also in June the government released figures highlighting the increased number of days with favourable weather for making the journey in 2024 and 2025.

Under increasing pressure to tackle the issue, the government has said it is sharing intelligence and strengthening cross-border cooperation with France to “smash” people-smuggling gangs.

On Thursday the National Crime Agency (NCA) announced it had worked with Bulgarian authorities to seize 25 small boats intended for use in the Channel.

The NCA said it is thought to be the “biggest single detection of small boats in 2025.”

Campaigners have long argued that the government should introduce “more safe and legal routes” to help reduce small boat crossings by making smugglers “redundant”.

In the whole of 2020 there were 8,461 crossings, while in 2019 that number was 1,835.

In 2018 there were 297 people recorded making the journey, though figures were only published from 3 November.

The annual total for 2025 hit 10,000 at the end of April, and 20,000 by the end of June.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month agreed to a pilot scheme in which some migrants who crossed the channel would be detained and returned to France.

In exchange, others would be allowed to come into the UK from France via a legal and controlled route.

The idea is to deter migrants from making the crossing.

French police have also been changing their tactics.

They deliberately punctured a boat in July as it was leaving the beach because it was dangerously overcrowded.